The doubters and critics of Formula 1 record world champion Lewis Hamilton were numerous and omnipresent, especially last year. The Ferrari driver now looks back on his strong start to the season with a good dose of satisfaction.
After the disappointing sixth place in the world championship standings in his debut season with Scuderia Ferrari, there were quite a few who questioned Lewis Hamilton’s driving skills. Now, having regained his strength this year, the Englishman defended himself against his critics and launched a counterattack.
“Ultimately, I saw how certain people who didn’t have anywhere near the success that I had just came out with negative talk – like they still do today,” Hamilton shot in an interview with “f1.com”: “And it felt great to be able to come back, to come into this season and start strong. To show that I still have what it takes to fight at the front.”
In the still young season with a total of three races – Hamilton came fourth in Melbourne, third in Shanghai and sixth in Suzuka – the 41-year-old and his team Ferrari are one of the few who have coped well with the change in rules in the new era. According to initial findings, the new car suits his driving style much better and Hamilton has more confidence behind the wheel again.
Hamilton himself says: “I’m enjoying driving the new car. It’s a car that I was able to play a big role in the development of last year through the simulator work, so it’s nice to see that some of the things I asked for have been incorporated into the design of the car and to feel them, and to feel them in a positive way.”
Hamilton: “Everyone is giving full throttle”
Remarkable: In the first three races of the year, the old champion has already scored a quarter of the points that he scored in the entire last season. His teammate Charles Leclerc is only eight points further ahead in the standings.
Like all competitors, Ferrari now has five weeks to work on the cars – since the Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cannot take place. Ferrari still has a lot to do before the next race in Miami.
“Everyone is going full throttle and honestly it’s really, really inspiring to see,” Hamilton said. “Any time you work in a great organization and you go back to the factory and you see everyone with their heads down going full throttle for every millisecond. Those are the things I love most about this sport and that I wish people could see. You go there and you get inspired and you think, OK, these guys are really on the ball and I’m excited for the next few months.”
The break so early in the season is “strange”, but it also gives “time to really digest the first three races and work even harder to bring more performance to the next one”.
