Pre-Race Interview With Lewis Hamilton
May 16, 2008
McLaren
Q: It was a fantastic performance in Turkey, do you think you will be able to go one better in Monaco?
Lewis Hamilton: “Unpredictable is the word that sums up Monaco from a performance perspective. It was a great race in Turkey, we know the performance is there, but at Monaco literally anything can happen.”
Q: Monaco has traditionally been a successful circuit for you across a range of formulae, what is it about the track that you enjoy so much and what do you need to be quick?
Lewis Hamilton: “Monaco, my favourite race. You have the history all around, you can just feel it, and the atmosphere is fantastic. It is the Grand Prix that every driver wants to win. Being a street circuit it is very exciting to drive, there is no room for any error all weekend. You are on the limit the whole time, there are no long straights where you have a moment to think. It is so tight and narrow, and when you consider how quick you are driving it is unreal. To be quick you need to use every centimetre of the circuit, this even includes touching the barriers at some points.”
Q: With such a unique circuit layout, what is the priority with car set-up?
Lewis Hamilton: “The set-up is quite a lot different, the primary requirement is fantastic traction, to ensure you can get out of the corners well. Because there are no straights, we put as much downforce as we can on the car as we don’t need to, and aren’t able, to reach the speeds of any other track.”
Q: The circuit looks incredibly tight in places on TV, how does it feel inside a Formula 1 car?
Lewis Hamilton: “It is so tight, and very difficult to describe how it feels in the car because you are so low. You are hitting some corners at 180mph, as you are braking down you know there is no run-off area, you can’t see the exit. All you can see is directly what is in front of you, probably about 50 metres. In some corners it is almost a guess, you are guessing where the car should be, hoping that you are in the right place, relying on your instinct and memory.”
Q: The race is associated with the glamorous side of the sport, as a driver do you get involved in this or is it a distraction?
Lewis Hamilton: “It is not a distraction in any way, as with any race I am just fully focused on getting the job done. Monaco weekend more than any other is about being 100% in the zone and so I just keep myself to myself.”
