Hamilton says he is a worthy F1 champion

London, Sep 20 (ANI): Ace driver Lewis Hamilton has rubbished claims he should not have won the Formula One title last year, insisting that he is a true champion.

The McLaren driver's historic victory has been called into question amid the fall-out from the Crashgate scandal that has rocked F1.

Hamilton pipped Ferrari rival Felipe Massa by one point to become the youngest champ in history. ut there are suggestions that Massa would have won the Singapore Grand Prix if Renault had not fixed it in favour of Fernando Alonso.

Hamilton said: "I am a worthy World Champion. I have got the number one on my car and I deserved it. I am extremely proud of my achievements since coming into F1. Getting in that car is the one thing I can do in my life that I know I am better at than most people."

"It is a great feeling to know that I can do it well and that it is widely respected and loved. I remember my race in Singapore last year. I was driving with one eye on the world championship and wasn't going to take too many risks. I was happy to finish on the podium," News of the World quoted him, as saying.

"There are things that happened last year with penalties that affected my points. And I still think I won in Belgium. I think that was my race," Hamilton added.

Hamilton led Massa by just one point with four races left heading into F1's first night race in Singapore last year. The Brazilian - now out of action following his accident in Hungary - snatched pole and shot into a 4.5 seconds lead over Hamilton.

But his hopes were ended when the safety car was called out after Nelson Piquet controversially smashed into the wall on lap 15. Like the rest, Massa raced into the pits but drove off with the fuel hose still attached.

The Sao Paulo racer was hit with a drive-through penalty and finished 13th but Hamilton admitted he settled for third knowing his lead would be seven points with three races left. (ANI)