Grapevine: Hamilton regrets ridiculed PR stunt

Lewis Hamilton admitted he regrets taking part in a pre-Turkish Grand Prix publicity stunt for McLaren title sponsor Vodafone, which brought on media mockery in the UK

Hamilton was hoisted on to stage on high wires, portraying the Greek god Apollo, during a promotional event at the Istanbul set of 'Fires of Anatolia', a show depicting the battle of Troy.

And although Hamilton's exploits were broadcast around the world, there has been some ridicule in the media about how the McLaren driver looked.

"In the pantheon of ridiculous publicity stunts, it may rate among the greatest," the Times had declared on Friday. "Dressed in his logoed race driving suit, he looked less like a majestic Apollo than a cross between Peter Pan and an astronaut."

And now the man himself has conceded that he was not impressed by how the situation played out.

"I thought 'that really was not cool'," Hamilton was quoted as saying in the British newspapers on Saturday. "I just turned up and got on with what I've been told to do. Now I've seen the footage and it's one of the worst things I've ever seen.

"At the end of the day I have a cool image, and things like that don't help."

PR guru Max Clifford told Sky News that he believed the event had not helped Hamilton's image - although it may have been a success for Vodafone.

"He comes across like a performing puppet," said Clifford. "This is a guy that should be respected, not ridiculed.

"What kind of image is that for a Formula One driver? It might get the sponsor column inches but it's certainly not doing Lewis Hamilton any favours."