LEWIS HAMILTON SUPPORTS ANDRETTI'S BID TO JOIN F1 GRID

AFP

LOSAIL, Qatar -- Lewis Hamilton believes Formula One should embrace Andretti's proposed entry to the sport as an 11th team due to the opportunities it would create and the added excitement it would bring to racing.

This week the sport's governing body, the FIA, formally approved Andretti's bid to join the F1 grid in future, although the American team still needs approval from F1's commercial rights holder Liberty Media to actually secure a spot.

That may be tricky, with several teams opposed to the idea -- on Thursday, Aston Martin boss Lawrence Stroll said F1 would be better off sticking with the existing 10.

Asked about the issue ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, Hamilton disagreed.

ALONSO SPILLS 'THE TRUTH' ABOUT BLOCKBUSTER HUNGARY 2097 'FALLOUT WITH LEWIS HAMILTON AND MCLAREN

Fernando Alonso has spilled what he has described as being “the truth” about his spectacular and controversial fallout with Lewis Hamilton at the 2007 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix. 

Friction between Alonso and Hamilton came to a head during a dramatic qualifying session for the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix, which set in motion a series of events that ultimately led to the Spaniard’s exit from McLaren following a bust-up with Ron Dennis. 

The two-time world champion was penalised for blocking his rookie teammate’s car in the pit lane, preventing Hamilton from completing a final attempt to claim pole position. Alonso went on to take pole but was handed a five-place grid drop, promoting Hamilton onto pole for the grand prix.