Two-time (and, almost certainly, soon-to-be three-time) Formula 1 champion, Lewis Hamilton, is the rock star of the paddock. In this interview, he tells us about his journey, his passions, future plans, and what he’s not especially fond of in in the world of F1.
He was born on January 7, 1985, at Stevenage, in Hertfordshire, approximately 50 kilometres from London
- At 10, he won the British Cadet Championship in karts, and at 15 the World Title
- In 2003, he became British champion in Formula Renault, and in 2005 European Champion in F3
- In 2006, he stood out in the GP2 championship
- In 2007, he debuted in F1 with McLaren and failed to win the Championship by a single point. He became F1 Champion the next year, at the age of 23
- After moving to Mercedes, he regained the F1 Championship in 2014.
Lewis Hamilton looks radiant when we meet him in the aftermath of the Italian Grand Prix, which he won hands down. A series of impressive results (seven victories, and the same number of consecutive pole positions) has added an aura to his personality. “I’m going through the best period of my life,” he admits. Relaxed and with his hair still dyed blonde – making him look more like a rock star than a racing driver – Hamilton settles down to tell us his story.
Have you ever thought you would achieve the success that you have in the last two years?
I’ve always hoped and dreamt it would happen, but you never know if what you dream will ever become true. I’m very lucky to have reached where I am today, but people can’t imagine how many sacrifices I’ve made to get here. And not just me, but my current and previous teams, and my family too – which has supported me since my karting days. Without all those experiences, I wouldn’t have ever become the driver that I am today.
You’ve declared many times that Ayrton Senna was your idol. Is that still the case?
I started racing 22 years ago, when I was eight, and at 13 I went to Italy as he had done – my ambition was to emulate him. So, being in F1, achieving some of the same successes, and having driven one of his cars, is simply fantastic. What I’m doing now is trying to perform at his level – doing my best to go beyond the present limit.
Bernie Ecclestone, however, compared you to Valentino Rossi…
For me it’s a compliment, since Valentino is the most legendary racer of our generation. I’ve been lucky enough to meet him a couple of times, and to be compared to someone of his calibre – someone who’s achieved so many marvellous victories – is priceless.
Who do you consider to be the strongest driver that you’ve competed with?
Let me think... I don’t know if there’s a specific driver – different drivers have different strengths. You can never say who’s best. For me, I always try to raise my game and perform at a higher level by learning something new from any circumstance. I’ve been lucky to race against many tough competitors, which is great because I can learn a lot from them.
Do you think your driving skills have improved over the years?
I like to believe I grew up. I think I’ve learnt many new things. My main goal this year has been to improve my mental approach and concentration, especially in qualifying. And I think I’ve been able to do that with the help of my team.
Which is your favourite race car – apart from your current steed, and last year’s car with which you won the world title?
I love the McLaren MP 4/4 (equipped with the Honda engine, it won 15 out of 16 scheduled races with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 1988). But also Fangio’s Mercedes from 1955 – it’s the Silver Arrows that I drove across the spectacular Monza flyover. Perhaps this is my favourite, because of the extraordinary noise of a real race car (at this point Lewis mimics the roar of the Silver Arrows, beaming with pleasure).
So you don’t much care for the sound of today’s hybrid power units?
Not really. I appreciate their power, which makes them more enjoyable and faster than they were before, but not their noise. I adore the single-seaters of the ‘80’s – still not very overly technical, and with manual gearboxes. And whenever I choose a road car, I make sure it has a manual transmission.
Can you see yourself still racing in the next ten years – in F1, or maybe even the Le Mans 24-Hours?
For sure, I won’t still be in F1 in ten years. I believe I’ll keep racing for three or four years more with the same team, and I’ll only keep doing it till the time that I enjoy it. But a time will come when I’ll feel that I’ve only got so much to give and then there’s no point to go on. I don’t have a plan as such, but I don’t want to be running my entire life. When I stop, it’ll be a shock but I’ll try and do something else. I like bikes as well, and I enjoy playing music – not that I plan to become a professional musician…
Lewis Hamilton at the wheel of one of his favourite cars – the Mercedes W196 that Juan Manuel Fangio drove to win the F1 title in 1955
Moments of Hamilton’s 2015 season: here he’s celebrating on the podium with Rosberg after his victory at the Grand Prix of China; above, he’s driving to victory in Monza; and on the facing page, walking around the Bahrain paddock with F1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone
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