Question: Lewis, first win of the season for you. Great scrap. First with Mark, then Sebastian (Vettel) and then Jenson and finally you emerge as the winner. What a race.
Lewis Hamilton: It was quite an exciting race. We knew that we had good race pace. We knew that we would be able to stay with the Red Bulls. Unfortunately they were so fast through turn eight that it was very difficult to be able to slipstream Mark, otherwise everywhere else I was pretty much on his tail. Then after the pit stop I think I had a problem with the right rear and lost a bit of time in the pit stop. Came out behind Vettel, so it was double trouble trying to get past both of them. Then at the end I am not really sure what happened with these guys. But me and Jenson had a good little battle. He got me on the outside into turn 13 and then fortunately I was able to get him back into turn one and so that was definitely unexpected. But really fair battle with him and a great result for the team. Our second one-two. I think we truly deserved it and I want to dedicate this win to my dad. It’s his 50th birthday tomorrow. Perfect way for him to celebrate.
Question: I am sure he will welcome the present. You had that great duel with Jenson but towards the end you were told by the team to save fuel. How critical was it? How close did you come to not making it to the chequered flag?
Lewis Hamilton: I have no idea. We were pushing very hard behind the Red Bulls. Definitely at the end it is a combination of looking after your brakes and looking after your tyres as turn eight is a killer. And of course looking after fuel. We tried to do the best job in that as it was always difficult to understand what they wanted from you and just how much fuel you had to save. But I think we did a good job and it was great that we were able to come across the line to finish.
Question: Lewis, you will be looking forward to many more wins this season. What does this do for your momentum now in the championship? Are you back?
Lewis Hamilton: I don’t think I was ever gone. I have just been a little unfortunate up until now and I think bit by bit myself and the team have just worked very hard to chip away. Yesterday we qualified second. We knew that was just one step we needed to make. They made it very tough for us, but we put up a good fight. You can see how close it is between the four of us. We are all doing a great job and it is really, really down to the momentum, trying to keep it with the team, myself and Jenson are going to do the best we can to push the team forward to win both those championships.
Question: Lewis, congratulations. It has taken a little while but we were talking on the drivers’ parade about the fascinating balance of power between yourselves and Red Bull, so this must be doubly satisfying because of that.
Lewis Hamilton: Absolutely. We have been right on their tails for some time. Obviously they had a big gap in the previous couple of races. But such an achievement for us to really be able to take the battle to them. They had one strength that was particularly good here and we had one strength here. I don’t know how it will pan out for the next races but they have got a great car and we have got a great car. But, fortunately, me and Jenson were able at least to compete with them and push our hardest to be on their tails. To get our second one-two as I said is fantastic. This is my third one-two with the team in four years, so very, very proud and happy I could do that.
Question: Tell us about the start. Sebastian got ahead of you.
Lewis Hamilton: I had a terrible start. I don’t really know what happened. I had a very good reaction but the car just didn’t go anywhere. Too much clutch slip I think. I had to dump the second clutch very, very early and I was just wheelspinning from the line and I couldn’t see who was there. I know Jenson got a better start. I know that Vettel got ahead of me, made it very tricky, but fortunately I got him back and that was the key at that point to be able to battle with the one and only guy in front.
Question: And you seemed to be pushing him hard?
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, I had really good pace. I was able to stay with him no problems except for the exit of turn seven and then through turn eight he was just ridiculously quick. But then I would close him up everywhere else. It was really a case of perhaps him making a mistake then I would be able to be close enough. At one point I think he ran a little bit wide but I wasn’t close enough at the time and he drove very, very well.
Question: What allowed Jenson to get on terms with you on that particular lap?
Lewis Hamilton: I was comfortable out in front. I was looking after the tyres. There was a little bit of miscommunications really with the team. They asked me to save fuel but it is just difficult to know how much you have got to save. They set a target for me lap time wise and I tried to stick to that. The target was definitely a bit too slow, so I was slowing down to keep that target and all of a sudden Jenson was right up my tail. There was nothing I could do. He had the slipstream on me up into turn 12. He was able to stay on the outside. He took me but fortunately I was able to get the exit and get the slipstream and it was very fair down into turn one. We had a great battle. We both went steaming in as late as we possibly could. I was understeering and fortunately I was able to come out in front.
Question: I believe your girlfriend was here for the first time this season. Is she your good luck charm, do you think?
Lewis Hamilton: I wouldn’t say that really. But I wouldn’t say no to it. Every time she seems to come I seem to win. I think it was Monaco 2008 she came, Hungary I won and Singapore, so she is definitely a little bit lucky for me I think.
Question: After your little duel on lap 49/50, was there any comment over the team radio from Martin (Whitmarsh) or the guys to cool it, bearing in mind what they’d just seen a few laps earlier with the Red Bulls?
Lewis Hamilton: For me, no, but I’m sure they were biting their nails all the time. But no, Martin didn’t speak to me or my engineer. They just asked me to look after the fuel, but they’d been telling me that for a good ten laps or so before that. I was just asked to keep doing the same thing, but I’m sure it raised a few hairs when we were battling.
Question: You said were surprised to see Jenson suddenly up behind you. When you were told to conserve fuel, you both were told to conserve fuel, did you take that as an instruction not to overtake? Did you see that at all…?
Lewis Hamilton: We don’t have instructions. We’re racing. For me it was just… the communication wasn’t clear for me. When they suggested ‘save this much fuel’ it was not easy to save that much fuel unless I went particularly slowly. I tried to reach that target and in doing so, Jenson was all of a sudden… he just appeared from nowhere and he was up my tail and then there was nothing I could do. I just had to try and defend the best way I could. He did a great move down the outside. Then I was able to fortunately get back on him and again hopefully a fair move down into turn one.
Question: Lewis, you were sitting in the first row when incident took place, how did you see it?
Lewis Hamilton: It was great to watch, it was like an action movie in HD or 3D; it was fantastic. It was right ahead of me. No, I got the best view of it obviously but it’s the last thing you want to see and fortunately Sebastian is safe but I just saw Sebastian go up the inside and Mark held his line. I don’t think he really had much room to move to the right and I don’t think there was necessarily a reason for Sebastian to try to move to the right. I think it was unfortunate for them but all I can say is that it was fortunate for us because we’ve been working hard all year. I think myself and Jenson have deserved to be on the front row for some time and so it was good today.
Question: In previous years, most drivers were complaining about dust problems at Istanbul Park. Was there a problem this year? Also, I want to learn of your opinions of the Istanbul Park this year.
Lewis Hamilton: There was a lot of sand, wasn’t there, a lot of dust. When I was behind cars… I’ve gone through two tear-offs and more. There was quite a lot of debris – not debris, mostly stuff from the tyres, but there definitely seemed to be a little bit of dust off-line but I don’t think it caused any problems. You are still able to overtake, it’s not too slippery. And the track is great, clearly it’s one of the best tracks we have because it enables you to overtake. You’ve got two great straights which you really do need in Formula One to capitalise on your gains elsewhere. I personally really like it, I think it’s a nice track to drive, I’ve always enjoyed it here. I think I’ve started second on the grid quite a few times and so it’s fine and nice to finally get a win here.
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