AUGUST 16, 2023
Q&A with Lewis Hamilton
"I HAVE TO BE PROUD OF MY TEAM!"
© Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Winless since the 2021 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has been clearly the most effective of the Mercedes drivers this year, heading into the summer break just one point behind old foe Fernando Alonso in a very tight battle for third place in the standings. More importantly for the seven-times World Champion, he has scored 49 more points than team mate George Russell and scored in Hungary his first pole position. But what Hamilton seems to value the most, is the progress Mercedes has made since introducing an important upgrade during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend.
Q: How do you assess your team's season so far?
Hamilton: I've been incredibly proud of everyone, everyone has been working insanely hard, we've been making big steps, I think the biggest step we took was when we got to Monaco and the car has really progressed a lot since then. We have a better understanding of where to position the car, it's been a lot more consistent, we've got more podiums and more top five finishes, which has been great and generally solid reliability. So, there's a lot of good bits, but the car, the balance we still have to work on. We need more downforce as we always do. I know everyone back at the factory has their heads down focussed on doing that. Massively focussed on getting second for the team in the constructors', keeping that and trying to get third in the drivers'.
Q: What were your expectations coming into this year?
Hamilton: Clearly, to be fighting for a World Championship. That's always the expectation, but coming from where we were last year, it was just to be in a much better position than we were in 2022 and I think that wasn't the case. With all the amazing work that goes on through winter, we kind of started further behind and so it's been a big, steep, uphill climb. But I'm really proud of the team. We're fighting for second in the Constructors' Championship, which is definitely something we didn't expect after what we felt at the first test, and that's really down to the great teamwork that's happening in the background.
Q: What's the feeling you get inside the car?
Hamilton: As a driver, you're constantly battling the inconsistencies with balance, but we are flat out trying to improve. We're working a lot to analyse where we are and what we can do to try and make those big steps that some of the others potentially have, like McLaren and Red Bull often make, so, hopeful and I have all the faith in the world that we will eventually get there too.
Q: You got pole in Hungary, so what has that result done to the team's morale?
Hamilton: I think it leaves us optimistic. I think it was amazing to have that experience on Saturday. It shows that there's potential in the car and everyone's working incredibly hard to bring performance. And I think our race pace was very good, we've understood what the issue was at the beginning and we've got some upgrades coming after the summer break.
Q: What are your goals for the second half of the season?
Hamilton: My full focus is on to try and secure second for the team. I think for everyone back in the factory it means a huge amount for them and whilst we can't currently catch the Red Bulls, I think that puts us in a good position for next year.
Q: Can you win a race?
Hamilton: At the moment, I'm not quite sure we can currently compete with tRed Bull on race pace. I think there were times in the last race Max was around eight tenths faster than everyone on a single lap. But never say never.