MODERATOR: We’ve been joined by Lewis Hamilton. Lewis, greetings. I think you’ve had a bit of an exciting journey getting here, haven’t you?
LEWIS HAMILTON: Yeah. I was in New York for a couple of days and I had an appearance for Mercedes Benz and then I went to Indy—sorry, to Washington yesterday for another appearance for Exxon Mobil. Getting back, the flight was canceled—well, was delayed I think from 4 to 8, and half an hour at a time and eventually it was canceled at 9. So we ended up staying in the hotel, and then luckily we flew out this morning.
MODERATOR: Tell us about your feelings about the reaction since last weekend, your win, your maiden win.
HAMILTON: As I said, I’ve been in New York, so I’ve not really heard too much about it. I know that there was—I heard that I had the front pages back in the UK on the Monday, which is awesome. But other than that, I don’t really, have not really been able to feel what has gone on around the world.
MODERATOR: Because I think the reaction has been phenomenal, but it’s extraordinary that you haven’t been able to gauge that.
HAMILTON: I think it’s been quite good, to be honest. I’ve been able to relax. I have had something like 200 text messages from friends. It’s almost impossible to reply to them all, but I’m trying.
MODERATOR: Your feelings after last weekend coming into this race?
HAMILTON: Well, obviously it was a big stepping-stone in my career and in my life. It was a great feeling to get the first win. Definitely not expected after going into only my sixth Grand Prix, especially at Canada where it wasn’t one of my strongest circuits. I think Fernando is probably quicker than me there. But I did a solid job. Coming out of it, it was very positive for the team. Extended our lead with the Constructors Championship. Great points for me, and coming here we have to try and continue with other performance we have. I know the guys back at the factory are still working very hard and not taking it lightly that we’re ahead.
MODERATOR: Are you expecting Ferrari to be more competitive here this weekend than they were, say, for the last two races?
HAMILTON: Possibly. I think they will be, after the last race they’re probably scratching their heads and definitely focusing very hard to improve for the next race. So in only a week you can’t make too many improvements, but I don’t know why they weren’t as quick as us last week. But we’ll see this weekend. I think they’ve been quite, you know, as you can see they’ve been very strong here in the past few years. So surely they will be quick here, but fingers crossed, we will be able to match them.
MODERATOR: I’m sure there are some questions from the floor for you. Shall we continue with questions from the floor?
Q: Lewis, I don’t know if you know what Fernando said to radio, Spanish radio. He said that the team support you more than him because you are British. Do you feel there is all this support from the team, there is not equal support between the two drivers?
HAMILTON: I find it strange he said that because I feel that ever since he joined the team, the team had been extremely motivated to push us both toward winning. Ron and the other guys on the team have been pushing extremely hard to make sure we have—working very hard to make sure we have equal opportunity. It’s probably always going to be difficult in a business, but obviously I’ve got a great relationship with all the guys in the team because I’ve been with them since I was 13. At the end of the day when Fernando came into the team, they were extremely excited, and I feel built a very good relationship with him. So I don’t see why he would say that. But I guess because he is Spanish and I am English, he might feel that way, but I don’t agree with it, personally.
Q: Lewis, now you have the possibility to become not only World Champion but even the youngest World Champion ever, do you have any particular feeling about that?
HAMILTON: To be honest, I try not to focus on that. I think I came into the season with a very open mind and being realistic of the fact that I am a rookie and I’ve got a lot to learn. It is still very steep learning curve, and yes, I have a great opportunity to, one, be in the best team and have one of the best drivers to compare myself to. But I still feel there’s going to be times during the season which, you know, will be some lows, some highs, and I think it’s way too early. Eleven races to go, I think it’s way too early to even start thinking about the championship. I just have to approach every race exactly the same as I always have and to try and do a solid job. Each time I go out in the car, I learn something new. I’m becoming more and more comfortable in the car, with the team, with the controls and with the rules and the regulations and just the whole racing, qualifying. I’m always learning bit by bit, and I will continue throughout the season.
Q: Lewis, do you think that Fernando is surprised by your results, that’s probably why he said these things? He was not expecting you to be as quick and to win so early?
HAMILTON: I can’t—I doubt it very much he was expecting me to do as well as I have, but I don’t know whether that’s why he would be saying what he’s saying. But, you know, definitely coming into the team, he’s the two-time World Champion, and he’s not really been challenged—well, I think he has some challenges in the past but not really had probably someone as close as me and as good a friend off the track, probably. So it’s a very difficult situation.
Q: Lewis, when you were out and about in New York and Washington, do you get recognized at all yet by Americans?
HAMILTON: I got recognized a couple of times, but the majority of the time I think it was a Spanish couple. (Laughter)
No, no, actually I was quite surprised, actually. They said we’re Spanish, but we support you. And then there was a couple of English tourists out there. But none of the Americans have noticed. I was able to walk around as free as everyone else.
TRULLI: The Spanish couple was lying. (Laughter)
Q: Lewis, in a race like Montreal, how much have you been aware in the cockpit that if the Safety Car comes out at the wrong moment your race could have been over, whatever advantage you have before, and what do you think about this rule in general?
HAMILTON: Obviously, I was aware of it going into the race. It’s always going to be an issue. So far this year I think we’ve all been very fortunate where it’s not hampered us, but obviously it did in Montreal. But I was obviously in the right place at the right time. Very fortunate that the team made a good decision, got me in a lap early, and I avoided the first Safety Car.
My views, I have not really had too many troubles with it, so I don’t have any bad views of the rule, but I can’t say it was probably the best idea. I think the previous years were maybe a little bit better.
Q: Lewis, coming here like a winner, how is your feeling to be in this monument of all the motor racing? And have you, something that you remember about this track, the 500 miles?
For me, I come here feeling exactly the same as I have for every race, very excited. I have literally just driven into the circuit, and I haven’t had time to see anything. It’s an amazing opportunity for any driver to come here and compete. Watching the Indy 500 over the years, it’s an awesome race, and I’ve always wanted to go and have a—to go and watch and be a spectator. But to be here racing on the circuit is pretty cool. Just flying over, I could see what the track was like. It’s quite a nice complex.
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