Hamilton's focus remains on title
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Your support makes all the difference.As motorsport's governing body prepares to launch their anti-racism campaign, Lewis Hamilton says he is more concerned about performing well in this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona than he is about another outbreak of the racist behaviour by local fans that he had to endure there two months ago.
The FIA announced their proactive "Racing Against Racism" initiative after a handful of fans abused Hamilton in February. There was no recurrence in the recent test at the Circuit de Catalunya, after they threatened that further incidents could cost Spain their two grands prix.
And Hamilton says he is happy to be racing at a venue he adores. "It is a great track. We can't ever lose it from the calendar. It always sees competitive racing, and there are so many enthusiastic fans there which makes for a great atmosphere."
He goes into the first race of the European leg of the world championship determined to eradicate the memory of a troubled weekend in Bahrain which saw him drop five points behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
"I fell back to 10th and tried to regain my position early on, and that was a big mistake," he said. "I will also make sure what happened at the beginning of the race never happens again.
"Of course last year I had nine podiums in the first nine races, and that was fantastic, but then the end of the year wasn't as strong.
"If I'm in the situation now where I've had my worst races already and they are followed up by 15 consecutive podiums, I would be very happy.
"There is still a long way to go. We saw last year how Kimi came from a long way back, demonstrating how anything can happen. So I have certainly not ruled out the opportunity to win this year."
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