Bernie Ecclestone has said
Lewis Hamilton's growing – if controversial – ‘playboy' image is doling wonders for the popularity of
Formula 1, and has called on his McLaren-Mercedes team to let the young Briton ‘off the leash' more often.
Hamilton has been making major headlines on and off the track in recent weeks, both for his rollercoaster ride in F1 – from slamming into the back of chief title rival
Kimi Raikkonen in the Montreal pit-lane to his mesmerising triumph in front of his adoring home fans in the British Grand Prix at the weekend – and for his equally colourful personal life.
The 23-year-old has been providing plenty of fodder for tabloid reporters of late, with red carpet appearances at film premières and concerts, and high-profile celebrity dalliances with both a Miss World contest runner-up and his new girlfriend, Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger.
Ecclestone is pleased that the seven-time grand prix winner – now the media's Golden Boy once more following his superb
Silverstone showing, propelling him back to the top of the drivers' standings – is becoming that most rare of things in the top flight these days – a true character.
“As a promoter, Lewis is a dream,”
F1's ringmaster said in an interview with
People Sport. “I don't mind the playboy image and I wish there could be more of it.
“There were always great characters in the old days and Lewis is becoming one, which is great.
“There are so many people who would love a driver like Lewis to be promoting the sport in the way he does. Drivers can be too robotic and not show what they are really about. It would be good if more were like Lewis.”
