After the drama and the jubilation of Brazil, new world champion Lewis Hamilton finally got to thank those who had made it all possible on Wednesday, as he arrived home to McLaren’s UK headquarters in Woking.
After a rapturous reception from the team’s entire workforce, Hamilton paid tribute to their efforts throughout the 2008 season, expressing his gratitude for all their work behind the scenes that allowed him to become the youngest man ever to take the drivers’ title.
Hamilton’s welcome started as he came through the gates of the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC), its 10 metre-long neon entry sign transformed from its normal white to McLaren’s trademark victory ‘rocket’ red, with a special message congratulating the British driver on his success.
Surrounded by the glittering from his race wins, Hamilton gestured at the silverware and said: “All of these trophies are your hard work.
We’ve won together, we’ve lost together and now we are world champions.”
A huge ovation, augmented with whoops and cheers, broke out among the audience, who all wore celebratory T-shirts. “I love this team,” Hamilton added. “I’m going nowhere.”
“I’m with the team I’ve always dreamt of driving for, and I’ve got the car I always wanted - so why change?.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be in F1 - but I want to see my career out with this team, and that’s my plan.”
On the way to address them all in the vast canteen, Hamilton walked down The Boulevard, a hallway lined with cars driven by some of his most illustrious predecessors.
“Even when I was growing up, when I first knew that racing was what I wanted to do, I knew that it was McLaren I wanted to drive for. I used to go to the old headquarters and see Ayrton Senna’s championship-winning car, Mika Häkkinen’s too. And I used to touch the steering wheels and dream that some day I’d have one with my name on and the No 1 on the front. And now that dream has come true.”
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