Question: Lewis, this weekend marks McLaren’s 700th World Championship event, which you may or may not know. How does it feel as a World Champion to play a part in that history and such an important part in that history?
Lewis Hamilton: It feels great. My dream was always to race for this team so to have become a part of the history of the team and to be here now representing them on their 700th grand prix, I am very proud of that. I am very proud to be a part of it. I have got some incredible people behind me supporting me within the team and I think I am very blessed to have that.
Question: Jonathan Neale said that the team had given you a standing ovation. Not awfully certain where it was, but how does it feel to have that support when you are trying to refocus on your season in 2011.
Lewis Hamilton: I don’t really know anything about that. I’ve not had a standing ovation for a while. I have been with the team since I was 13-year-old. I think I have quite a unique relationship with the team and regardless of how tough a year it has been or how many problems we have had I stay very close to their hearts and I think the same with me. They continue to support me and it is great to see that when they are having tough times us as drivers, me and Jenson, are able to lift them and vice versa.
Question: And you must have been very heartened by the fact that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes won the grand prix last weekend?
Lewis Hamilton: Well, I wouldn’t say heartened is the word. I think I was very proud as we had worked very hard to beat the Red Bulls this year and to beat them on such an important weekend, when Sebastian won the World Championship, I think was quite significant for us. It is quite an achievement and as always we celebrated in the same manner as we always do and I think that continues to show strength in our team.
Question: Lewis, do you think Sebastian with his young team could be a serial winner in the future as well?
Lewis Hamilton: You cannot really predict what is going to happen, but they have been very competitive the last two-and-a-half-years so we have to assume they are going to be competitive next year but we all start from scratch and have another chance to win again. I think one thing is for sure is that we are all determined to win the championship so whatever the case it won’t be easy for any of us.
Question: This was an interesting and demanding new track last year which you did really well on. Are you looking for a particular result this weekend, a particular experience here this weekend to help you get back in your groove?
Lewis Hamilton: My approach every weekend is obviously to have a good weekend but for some time now it’s not been the case but I always come back, I always come back and give it another shot and hope for a better result. I’ve prepared myself in the best way I can, with the situation that stands, and I hope that… clearly Jenson showed that we’re competitive, so I think that if he can do it then I can do it, so I really need to get on with things this weekend. Hopefully we will have our timing a little bit better in qualifying and get our second run in and hopefully we will be able to compete with the two guys here. I’ve got two-time World Champions next to me and my goal in life is to emulate those, but really I think I have to catch up with them so I’m working on that.
Question: Could you talk a little bit about the track for us?
Lewis Hamilton: The track’s fantastic, it’s a nice track to drive. Last year there were obviously some difficult conditions but I believe this weekend is going to be dry. You’ve got a couple of very long straights which enable you to follow and to overtake. With the DRS zone I think it’s going to be quite a challenging circuit and I think staying ahead of people is going to be tough when they’re right behind you, of course. But I think our car will be quite quick here as well as the two guys next to me, so it’s going to be very close but fingers crossed, we show some positive performance as we did in the last race.
Question: You keep saying that you’re going to keep trying, to win some races and to keep on winning ; I was wondering how hard it is to still have motivation when everything is done. Racing for fun can’t be as good as winning when races count.
Lewis Hamilton: I think no matter who you are, every challenge, every competition, every race or obstacle that you come across in life is important and every race that I come across… every race is important. To me, racing is the biggest part of my life apart from my family and it doesn’t matter if it’s a practice race or whatever, it still holds significant value to me. Whether or not the championship is still up for grabs, I think there are still some fantastic races ahead of us and there’s always another chance to revive yourself, so I’m excited for that.
Question: Lewis, the last few races have not been very exciting for you. What’s your explanation for this, is it linked by the tyres, just bad luck or something else?
Lewis Hamilton: I think the last… I think it’s been more than two races, it’s been since… at least since Hungary, so that’s quite a few races, but even before that we had some… yeah, so it’s been a good five bad races. I think it’s a combination of things. I put most of it down to myself and of course, there are times that you find yourself a little bit unfortunate but whether it could be a yellow flag or something like that or traffic, it’s not really any excuse, we all have to do it, we all have to do the job. Others are able to do it, so I think it’s just been a lack of some pace, a lack of some being in the right place at the right time so that’s what we’re working towards improving.
Question: Is it possible that you have again become a friend of Felipe Massa?
Lewis Hamilton: I think so. Of course the situation has not been great for some time now. I’ve always had respect for Felipe and still do today, regardless of the negative comments that he’s constantly coming up with. It’s easy, in this sport, when you’re competitive and in the heat of the moment, to say things that perhaps you don’t mean, whether or not he does mean them. But regardless, I’ve tried to show respect, particularly in the last race, I’m very, very sorry for that. I really didn’t see him. I’ve just seen the replay today and he was quite far up the outside of me but out of my mirrors, I can’t see a thing, and I was looking to the right and I couldn’t see him, so by the time I realised he was on the left it was too late. I think I’ve been in the wrong place in the last few races. We’ve had the car to be quite a bit further ahead as Jenson showed and so perhaps if I was doing the right job I wouldn’t be in this situation with Felipe but again, just all due respect and I hope that in the future we can put our guards down and he can be cool with me again. I’m cool with him, so I have no problems with him.
Question: There’s been a lot of talk about races, but since you’re in Korea, I would like to ask a question that is specific to Korea. The Korean interest in motor sports is not that high, unfortunately, so a lot of the F1 driver hopefuls are struggling to become professional drivers. Sebastian, Fernando and Lewis, you all became World Champions despite difficult conditions so can you say a word of encouragement to F1 hopefuls in Korea, based on your experiences?
Lewis Hamilton: I agree with both the drivers, and particularly Fernando’s comment there. I was going to say the same. I think it’s definitely possible to have a Korean driver in the future and I think it just appears that the formula for proving a young driver’s talent is to go to Europe to race. The majority of the drivers that you see here in the paddock would have gone to Italy to race as that’s generally where the… they have great weather, they have great circuits, generally most of the greats went racing there. That’s the place where you will be seen, that’s the place where you will really have your skills and your talent challenged and so it’s about making… it’s quite a big sacrifice to move countries all the way from Korea to Europe, but if you feel confident in yourself, believe in yourself enough then you should do that.
| 
|