Wednesday, 05 November 2008 00:00

After taking the 2008 Formula 1 title in Brazil, Lewis Hamilton made his triumphant return to the McLaren factory in Woking on Wednesday.

The new world champion arrived in style, driving up to the McLaren Technology Centre in his MP4-23 and getting out to rapturous applause from the team's workforce.

Hamilton then took questions from selected members of the press and itv.com/f1 was on hand to hear him speak.

Question: What are your emotions seeing the reaction at the Technology Centre today?

Lewis Hamilton: I feel pretty similar to how I felt when I got out of the car. I’m out of breath, I can’t really believe there are so many people here today wearing the [‘rocket red’ victory] tops.

It’s just very emotional for me, because obviously I’ve worked with you for a few years but I’ve been seeing you eight years. To know that I’m part of the team and that I’ve made so many people happy…I’m a bit overwhelmed.

Q: What sort of comments and reactions have you been getting from the team here in Woking?


LH: Everyone is just so positive and so thankful. The thing is, we’ve been through all the troubles, all the penalties and all the disappointments together, and we rose to the top together, and that’s the most important thing. I’m just very proud to be a part of it.

Q: What has the reception been like since you touched down back in Britain?

LH: Well we landed yesterday and we were all a bit sleepy. At the airport I got quite a good cheer from people who just came to say congratulations, which was great.

I’ve been hanging out back home so not many people have seen me – this is really the first time.

Q: Have you had any time to think to yourself where you might have been, what you might have thought if that last lap hadn’t worked out?

LH: I did for pretty much the last two laps, so I don’t want to think about it again!

I think during most races the spectators find it tough and the drivers are quite relaxed, but this time I was just as nervous as you guys – my heart was in my mouth, and I think you saw at the end I didn’t know what to do.

Q: America elected a new president last night and I know you will have had some interest in what went on. I dare say that if you could have called through to Barack Obama to congratulate him you would have done…

LH: I’d probably say ‘Good morning, Mr President’! I’m very happy. I tried to watch it as closely as I could and I’ve got a huge amount of respect for both candidates.

But I’m very, very happy and proud to see Obama out front – it’s great for the world, so congratulations to him.

Q: On the race issue, we’ve heard from your dad about some of the obstacles you’ve overcome – how important do you think it is that you are overcoming those barriers in Formula 1?

LH: Well it’s the pinnacle of the sport and it’s a way of life. Everyone has obstacles to overcome; that’s how you learn and it’s what builds character.

With all the experiences I’ve had, I don’t have any regrets. We lost the championship last year by one point, but I don’t regret that; it was part of the learning process.

Q: It sounds like you’re keen not to be seen as just the first black champion in F1; you’re just proud of your achievements in the same way as any driver would be in reaching his potential…

LH: Absolutely. I’ve always said that I never arrived at a track and said I’m the only one [black driver] here.

We’re just proud to have achieved what we had set out from the beginning, you know.

I was six years old when I said to myself that this was something I wanted to do, and I remember it.

My dad was the one who kept pushing and pushing and giving me the opportunity.

Q: You are inescapably a role model now – what kind of inspiration do you want to provide to young people, especially young black people?

LH: I don’t particularly sit there and say to myself that I want to be an inspiration for just the one generation or group.

The great thing about it is that it opens doors up to all groups – anyone can get into it. I want to be as positive a role model as possible because I don’t believe there are that many out there. I know when I was growing up there weren’t that many to look up to and it was not always people giving out a good message.

I think I’ve been raised well, I’ve got good values and I just try to stick to those.

Q: You’re a national hero now…will we see you move back to Britain?

LH: I’m happy where I am: I have a very balanced life and I don’t feel that anything needs the change. Hopefully I can speak to the boss and we can get some more holiday!

Q: We’ve been reading that you could become sport’s first billionaire – how does that feel?

LH: Well what can you do with a billion pounds?

Q: Buy McLaren…

LH: I’m very pleased that I drive for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and they have the coolest car that I want, so why pay for it when I can own it?

Q: How do you feel this year compared to the end of the season last year?

LH: I was very tired at the end of last year and it took a lot of energy for me to keep my head up and to show the world that I was strong enough to bounce back this year.

I had a lot of support from everyone still, but I knew that

I remember at the party the other night I sat down because I was feeling tired and I’d just done the longest race ever.

I remember sitting there looking at everyone and I think they were singing ‘We are the Champions’. It was an amazing feeling to see everyone so happy and proud – proud of their job and proud of what we’d all achieved.

And it’s the same here today, obviously on a much larger scale, and I get so much from this. I’ll definitely be working even harder to try to do that again.

Q: Look ahead to next year, what do you see as the main challenges for 2009?

LH: I think it’s quite simple: avoid penalties and avoid mistakes! I’m even more determined to put us in the same position again – but hopefully if we have an opportunity [to clinch the title] we won’t do it on the last lap…

Q: Do you anticipate that next year’s rule changes will upset the form book significantly?

LH: I think it’s difficult to say. We could have a disastrous year or we could have a great year.

I have so much belief in my team, I know that they will do their utmost to make sure we have the best car, and I have no doubt that, being the best team, we will have the top car.

So that gives me huge confidence and gives me an extra drive to go and work even harder to make sure that we make less mistakes, we avoid those penalties and we have a much cleaner, smoother season.

That’s what we’ve all got to work towards.

Q: How long do you see yourself staying at McLaren, and if you do stay over the long term, how would you keep your motivation up?

LH: It’s easy. When I say I’m not going anywhere, I’m in the team I’ve always dreamt of driving with, and when you’re living your dream and you’ve got the car you want to have why are you going to change?

I don’t know how many years I’m going to be here in Formula 1. I haven’t decided, I think we’ll just take it as it comes.

If there’s a day when I get in the car and don’t have a smile on my face…that may be the day I need to retire.

But I want to see my career through with this team, so that’s my plan.

Q: It was surprising to see you make so many mistakes this year because you made so few in 2007. Why do you think you that was and how can you fix it for next season?

LH: I think to a certain point it was easier in the car last year; it was easier just to jump in and everything seemed to go well. I don’t know how we stayed so consistent.

But this year just niggling things…we’d be leading the race and at the end of the pit lane everyone’s stopped or something! I hadn’t been stuck at the traffic lights for a while so it was a new experience.

It’s just something you have to deal with through life. I’m sure next year and all the years I’m going to keep on learning, there’s going to be many more mistakes, and it’s how I bounce back from them and how I grow [that’s important].

What I’m saying is that I’m going to analyse what I’ve done this year and really try next year to minimise [mistakes].

And that’s what we’ve got to do as a team – although the team did their job because the car was the most reliable and didn’t stop on me ever, so I have every confidence that they will do the same for me next year.

source[itv-f1.com]

 

Dude, you're on a roll today with all the F1 news! Thanks for posting this interview. It was interesting to read, but I got a little annoyed at how often the press brought up the color of his skin. It shouldn't be such a big deal. I was also shocked they asked him when he would retire in sort of a roundabout way. It's Lewis' 2nd season and he's the world champ. He'd be a damn fool to go anywhere else or retire. All in all though, he seems really excited to be the champ, as I imagine anyone would be in his shoes!

 

When it comes to racial stuff all I can say is.....

 

He is the king baby - he is the king.

 

A young man with a solid head on his shoulders. Nuff respect due!