Question: Lewis, it was fun for Sebastian but how much fun was it for you and how much did you spend looking ahead given all the pressure that was coming your way from behind?
Lewis Hamilton: It was okay, wasn’t too bad. Mark drove really well throughout the race and congratulations to Sebastian. They were massively quick throughout the weekend and particularly in the race it was impossible to really be able to catch Sebastian and overtake. Then later on in the race just really struggled. I had pretty much full lock on everywhere and was struggling with a lot of understeer but, nonetheless, it is a good weekend for me compared to what I have had in the past so I am happy.
Question: Lewis, you mention a good weekend overall for yourself. The championship might not be there for you now, but how much is the rest of the season about restoring your belief in yourself that you can go out and fight for wins on a regular basis?
Lewis Hamilton: Well I would never question my belief in myself, so that’s not really something that needs doing. I have got the trust and the confidence from the team so it is really just about trying to stay out of trouble, stay out of the stewards’ office and just keep my head down and hope for better results.
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Formula 1: Sebastian Vettel Wins Korean Grand Prix Ahead of Lewis Hamilton
Formula 1: Korean Grand Prix - Race Results
Question: Lewis, how did you feel about the start, how did you feel that first lap went?
Lewis Hamilton: Well, it wasn’t too good for me. The start was good, lost a position to Sebastian and that was really the end of the opportunity of winning. It was probably my fault, I left a bit of a gap but I’d already moved once and I thought that moving again, I would probably be in trouble. I left a gap and it was impossible really to catch him again, to get close enough to overtake him.
Question: As Sebastian said, after the safety car, you really did seem able to hold on to him. That seemed to be your best opportunity.
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, but again, when it got to the last sector, he just had… he was probably flat through the last corner and I was having a big lift, struggling with a lot of front end, and it got worse and worse through the race, so eventually I just started losing him.
Question: How hard was Mark pushing, because he did get past you once?
Lewis Hamilton: Mark was pushing… we were both pushing massively quick, as hard as we could. For some reason the car got worse and worse, in terms of… on the front end of the car. The rear of the car was fine but I was having more and more lock throughout the race and I had all the front wing I could possibly have on the car, which is unusual. Nonetheless, we managed to stay ahead of him, but it was a serious battle.
Question: Lewis, from the outside, you’ve seemed a bit downcast this weekend to us who have been watching you. You didn’t win but you had a very solid result. Do you leave, maybe, feeling a bit happier than when you came here?
Lewis Hamilton: Not really. I think I came here in a decent mood, a good weekend, but I didn’t win, I went backwards so I wouldn’t say that I’m happy about that. But nonetheless, I was able to keep the car on the track and not get into trouble. I didn’t have any penalties, so that’s a positive on one side.
Question: Lewis, you say happy, which I can’t really see, looking at you. Is the fact that you were not able to catch the Red Bull and were thinking of victory; could that explain that you are a little bit down?
Lewis Hamilton: I’m not, I’m fine. I’ve got a flight to catch so I would much rather be on that flight than sitting here. I just don’t want to miss the flight. I think me and Mark have the same flight together. Oh, I don’t know what else you want me to say. I’m not ecstatic, I didn’t win but I finished second and that’s a strong finish, compared to where I finished in the last five or six races, whatever. I am positive, but there’s no need to celebrate, there’s nothing to celebrate.
Question: Could you talk a bit more about your fight, Lewis? What did you think about Mark’s attitude during your fight?
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, Mark drove fantastically well. He was very, very fair and as he said, the only way I could stay ahead of him was just using the strength of my… the power that we had at the exit of turn one and two. Otherwise, he was massively quick throughout the rest of the circuit and it was very, very fortunate that I was able to keep him behind me, but it was a long, long battle and to be honest, I wasn’t very sure whether I would be able to keep him behind that whole time, especially when they said you have 15 laps and then eight laps and still (seemed) forever. But nonetheless, it was a good fight.
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