Hamilton said it ‘felt strange to drive past homeless people and then arrive in a huge arena’.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has responded after he received criticism for suggesting India is “such a poor place” and questioned whether Formula One races should be held there.
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Lewis Hamilton (Online photo)
The five-time Formula One world champion posted a response to social media, saying India is “one of the most beautiful places in the world” but reaffirming his point.
“Whilst it’s the (fastest) growing economy it also has a lot of poverty,” he wrote.
“My reference was that a Grand Prix there felt strange to drive past homeless people and then arrive in an huge arena where money was not an issue.”
The Indian Grand Prix was held three times between 2011 and 2013 at the Buddh International Circuit in Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, as the 17th race of the Formula One season.
Hamilton wrote on Instagram: “They spent hundreds of millions on that track that is now never used. That money could have been spent on schools or homes for those in need.
“When we did have the race nobody came because it was too expensive most likely or no interest. However I have met some amazing Indian fans.”
Criticism of Hamilton began after he said he would prefer racing venues with “real racing history”, such as England, Germany, Italy and the US, after Vietnamese capital Hanoi was recently announced in the F1 calendar for 2020.
Lewis Hamilton (Online photo)
“I’ve been to Vietnam before and it is beautiful,” the 33-year-old told BBC Sport.
“I’ve been to India before to a race which was strange because India was such a poor place yet we had this massive, beautiful grand prix track made in the middle of nowhere.”
Indians took to social media to criticise Hamilton for his comments.
“No Lewis Hamilton, you are wrong,” wrote one Twitter user. “F1 needs to go to new countries to popularize the sport.
“I think it’s better you stick to racing and let the sponsors, marketing and branding teams for Formula 1 handle the race circuits. FYI F1 is hugely popular in India.”
Another wrote: “India is not poor but world’s sixth largest economy and fastest growing.
“Yes, it does have a large no. of poor and efforts are on to uplift them. Simultaneously, we have adequate (infrastructure), (people) amongst richest in world, a humongous middle class, and a market 4 big players.”
But Formula One expert Kunal Shah said the sport is not a priority in India, tweeting: “His comments aside, we just have different priorities as a developing country & economy. Let’s just accept & acknowledge that.”
Hamilton next races on Sunday November 25 in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the season.
The Englishman sealed his fifth world championship title at the Mexico Grand Prix in October, and is currently 81 points clear of second-placed Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.
RAJKOT, India (AP) — Daryl Mitchell scored 131 not out off 117 balls as New Zealand beat India by seven wickets in the second one-day international to draw level in the three-match series Wednesday.
Mitchell’s eighth ODI hundred helped the Black Caps score 286-3 in 47.3 overs — in reply to India’s 284-7 (50 overs).
Will Young also scored 87 off 98 balls, as he and Mitchell put on a match-winning 162 off 152 balls for the third wicket. It was the fourth-highest third-wicket partnership for the Black Caps in ODIs.
Mitchell's century topped Lokesh Rahul’s 112 not out off 92 balls. India — put into bat — was 118-4 at one stage, before Rahul played a rescuing hand with his eighth hundred in ODIs.
Medium pacer Kristian Clarke had picked 3-56 in eight overs for the Black Caps.
India won the first ODI in Vadodara by four wickets. Indore will host the decider Sunday.
Earlier, skipper Shubman Gill scored a second consecutive half-century as India made a decent start.
Gill scored 56 off 53 balls, with nine fours and a six, as he put on 70 off 74 balls with Rohit Sharma (24).
Clarke had Sharma caught off a miscue in the 13th over as India’s progress slowed down. Later, Virat Kohli (23) also chopped onto his stumps off Clarke.
In between, Gill failed to carry on from his start while vice-captain Shreyas Iyer (8) too was caught off Clarke in the 22nd over.
Rahul then shepherded the innings as he put on vital lower-order partnerships. He added 73 off 88 balls with Ravindra Jadeja (27) and then another 57 off 49 balls with Nitish Reddy (20).
The keeper-batter reached 50 off 52 balls, and then accelerated toward the end overs to score the next 50 off 35 balls. Overall, his hundred came off 87 balls even as India ended up with a below-par score.
In reply, New Zealand did not start well. Harshit Rana bowled Devon Conway for 16, while Prasidh Krishna bowled Henry Nicholls for 10. The Black Caps were down to 46-2 in 12.4 overs.
Mitchell and Young then came together and stitched together a dominant partnership.
Young scored 50 off 68 balls — his first against India in ODIs as also a first 50-plus score in 12 innings. Mitchell too scored 50 off 52 balls.
While the Indian attack struggled with evening dew, there were also a couple late reprieves for the two batters. The pair survived a run-out chance while Mitchell also gained from a dropped catch, both in the 36th over.
“The run-rate had crept up to seven but once we got into a rhythm, we felt there was an opportunity to put pressure back onto India,” Young said. “We timed it very well. After scoring 300 in the first game, 285 felt like a very chaseable number.”
Kuldeep Yadav — expensive on the day with 1-82 in 10 overs — finally got the breakthrough in the 38th over sending back Young.
It wasn’t enough — Mitchell scored 100 off 96 balls and then sped his way to the finish line, finishing with 11 fours and two sixes.
New Zealand won with 15 balls remaining and sealed its highest ODI chase on Indian soil.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
India's KL Rahul celebrates after scoring a century during the second One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Rajkot, India, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
India's KL Rahul celebrates after scoring a century during the second One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Rajkot, India, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell celebrates after scoring a century during the second One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Rajkot, India, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell celebrates after scoring a century during the second One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Rajkot, India, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of India's Virat Kohli during the first One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Vadodara, India, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
India's Virat Kohli reacts as he leaves the field after losing his wicket during the first One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Vadodara, India, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
