Lewis Hamilton has presented the McLaren car he will be driving at the Indian Grand Prix.
Speaking about the Indian Formula 1 circuit, Hamilton said the track was "quite fun to drive".
Hamilton will replace Michael Schumacher at Mercedes from 2013, after Schumacher announced his plans for retirement earlier this year.
The British driver stressed his "intent was never to get in the way of Michael", and claimed that "(Schumacher) has done more than any other driver in Formula One".
Hamilton also spoke about the recent performance of his current team, McLaren, admitting it had been "very, very tough to compete" with Red Bull and Ferrari.
Hamilton was the 2008 Formula One world champion.
"The track is quite fun to drive actually. It's kind of a medium, medium to low speed circuit speed-wise. So it's quite a lot of medium speed corners there, so it's incredibly challenging. Last year we were struggling with of the rear tires which is degradation of the rear tyres which is a big problem throughout our year, but this is quite a demanding circuit for tyres,” says Hamilton.
"I don't necessarily see it as taking over the big seat. And my intent was never to get in the way of Michael (Schumacher). He's done more than any other driver here in Formula One. He's achieved an incredible amount and I watched Formula One when he was.... I was at home watching Formula One before I got here, watching him win in those world championships and admiring him. So it's very, very surreal for me to be racing him today and to be jumping into his old seat is real privilege. Rather than replacing him, to be able to go into the car that he was driving the year before will be a great privilege and a real honour."
"The teams are getting more and more competitive. Red Bull and Ferrari have been stepping up every year. And so it's been very, very tough to compete with them. And definitely very sad that we've not been able to win another world championship in that period of time when I feel that we are as a team.... are good enough to have done so. And I feel that I am good enough to have done so. So for whatever reason it hasn't happened and I'm not going to complain you know, this is.... I'm still in Formula One and I've still got opportunities in the future. Obviously next year's probably out of the question, but regardless I will go and I will fight as hard as I can to try and get the best result."
SNTV