© Sam Bloxham for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix ltd.
Lewis Hamilton attended the 2023 Italian Grand Prix Thursday Drivers’ Press Conference. Here is the full transcript!
Q: Lewis, let’s start with you. Many congratulations, you have a new contract in the bag , your incredible journey in Formula 1 continues, just give us your immediate thoughts?
Lewis HAMILTON: Well, you’re all stuck with me for a little bit longer! Honestly, I couldn’t be happier to be extending with this team. We’ve had such an incredible journey together. I mean, Mercedes have supported me since I was 13. So such a long trip. And we still have unfinished business. So, we are in this together, we’ve got a lot of work to do to get ourselves back to the front, but there’s no place I’d rather be.
Q: Was there ever any doubt in your mind as to whether you wanted to continue?
LH: No, no, I definitely wanted to continue. I mean, I think in life, there’s always… When you have up and downs, like last year was a difficult year, I’m pretty sure everyone was questioning whether they wanted to continue, because it’s just tough at the top. And it’s such a tough sport. But that feeling, that thought, quickly goes away and you put your work, you put your mind and your energy into being the best you can be and dealing with the situations that you’re faced with. And so I’m really proud of what we achieved last year to get through it. And then while we started on the wrong foot this year to have had some really great results, we’re second in the Constructors’ Championship, and the plan is to keep that and then close the gap to the guy ahead.
Q: And the goal for 2024 and ‘25. is simple, I imagine.
LH: The goal is simple, yep. Setting the target is simple. Achieving that target is not. But it’s going to take all of us pulling together… I think every team here and every driver is working so hard to get on top of the aero package they have and the team that they have and pull everyone together. And having everyone firing on all cylinders is not easy in a large team. And so that takes consistent work. And same from a driver’s perspective, you know, just making sure you’re performing every weekend. Even though I’ve been driving and racing all these years, I still feel like I can improve each weekend. And I think that’s what I love about this sport – you’re never going to reach perfection, but the pursuit of perfection is one of the most exciting things about what we do.
Q: Best of luck with that over the next two years. Just bringing it onto this weekend. You have been a thorn in Ferrari’s side for so many years here at Monza. What sort of reception do you get from the tifosi?
LH: It’s shifted a lot. I think from the beginning, it was, I mean… I can’t remember if it was here… No it was somewhere else that I got black cats thrown at me. But I think here was, yeah, I remember there was a period of time where we couldn’t wear the team shirt into the circuit, to now just having such a warm welcome from the Italian fans. And finally, for the last, God knows how many years, just feeling really welcome here. And in a place that I’ve loved since I was like 13, the first time I started racing in Italy, in Parma and Jesolo and South Garda. And it brought me so much happiness. I had so many great memories out here, eating as many pizzas as possible, the great pasta and the best lasagna ever. And the gelato. So to finally be embraced within the culture, and especially with this incredible crowd that we get here. You know, obviously, a large percent are Ferrari fans, but the passion that the Italian fans have is second to none. So I think we got a cool little following here. And I look forward to seeing them this weekend.
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QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (David Croft – SkySports F1) Lewis, congratulations on the new contracts. I think we’re all quite happy to put up with you for another two years to be honest. Unfinished business, you say but what’s the unfinished business? And what has the team said to you that’s convinced you that that’s achievable in ‘24 and ’25?
LH: Well, we’re trying to win more World Championships and I think, yep, the unfinished business is getting us to the back to the top, it’s getting back and fighting for World Championships. We’ve been the most successful team in history and had the most successful run in the past 10 years or whatever but it’s been a challenge this past year so I think yeah, it’s just getting us back to where we belong and where we operate on all those cylinders which you’re seeing Red Bull do. I can’t remember what the last part was.
Q: (David Croft – SkySports F1) What have they said to convince you…
LH: It’s what you see. It’s not necessarily what someone says, it’s the work that you’re doing, it’s the meetings we’ve been having with all the engineers, with James Allison and the whole group back at the factory just focused on… the heads of all the departments coming together and talking and just really engaging better than ever before about where we are, the mistakes we’ve made, why we’ve made those decisions and why we won’t make them again and where we’re going. And just all having that confidence in each other that we are the best at what we do and when we come together and when we… given time, we will get to where we need to be.
Q: (Scott Mitchell-Malm – The Race) Lewis, it wasn’t that long ago you were talking about the idea of racing past your 40th birthday was something that you couldn’t imagine or didn’t seem to really appeal. Are you surprised at all by your own longevity? What is it that’s kept you going for this long so successfully?
LH: Well, firstly, behind this camera we have a couple of kids who wanted to say… and some parents who wanted to say hi. I don’t know if they can see us. Hi guys. Ah, shoot. What did you say?
Q: Have you been surprised by your own longevity?
LH: Yeah, definitely. I definitely didn’t think that I would be at the age that I am and feel the way that I do, physically and mentally and still love what I’m doing as much as I do. And that’s something I’m incredibly grateful for. I think a lot of people stay in the same jobs and roles for a long period of time and fall out of love with it but just keep going because it’s maybe the only thing they can do, but for me, I genuinely love, I still have that love for what I’m doing. I still love getting in the car. I still love racing with my peers and I still love working alongside Bono and all the guys in the garage, in the team, like chasing that common goal and dream. And I love that feeling of when you have the lows together and when you have the highs together, there’s nothing like it.
Q: Lewis, will Bono do two more years?
LH: Yeah. Bono’s stuck. Yeah, I’m very fortunate and again, that’s like history as well. There’s no… I don’t think there’s ever been an engineer and driver pairing that’s been this long. So we’re setting new records.
Q: (Andrew Benson – BBC Sport) Lewis, on that unfinished business thing, how much of it was influenced by wanting to avenge what happened in Abu Dhabi two years ago, because I know you were very upset by what happened there? And also in terms of going on beyond 40, have you at all looked at what Fernando’s doing at 42 and thought, well, that’s just some kind of reassurance to me that at least I know if I do two more years, I definitely can do it?
LH: I think I look at people like Tom Brady, who’s such an incredible athlete and has shown what can be done today, so he’s the real role model, in that respect, I think for all athletes to be able to look at, and I’m really, really fortunate that I’ve been able to speak to him to understand, as well, what he’s done, what he does consistently to keep himself in shape and he’s expressed it in the media anyways. And then, yeah, of course it’s great seeing Fernando. He was here way before I was and obviously took that retirement and came back and is doing an amazing job. It just shows that your talent never really leaves you. As long as you have that passion and that commitment you can continue. And then on the 2021 thing, I’m not really a revenge person. It’s not about revenge. It’s not about redemption. That’s in the past. There’s nothing you can do about the past but what we can do is work harder and be more precise and be better moving forwards. And I truly believe that with this team, we can win more World Championships and watch races together so that’s where all my energy is going.
Q: (Alex Kalinauckas – Autosport) Another question to Lewis please, but on rather a different topic. I just wondered, what are your thoughts on the idea of F1 changing its rules to slow down a dominant team. There’s plenty of examples of that in history, in the Ferrari years, in your years the DAS was banned, the engine modes were changed, the rear floor rules were changed particularly in 2021. So what’s your thoughts on that? And also on 2021? Do you have any memories of how that really changed things for your team?
LH: I don’t know what’s been proposed. I’ve not heard anything. But we’ve experienced lots of changes, which were put in place to slow us down over the years and I think that it was better for the sport. If you look at 2021, for example, our qualifying pace was amazing… I think it’s 2021 or 2020, I can’t remember, but where they took away our qualifying mode, for example, brought us closer in qualifying. And on one side, the engineers just did an incredible job and they deserved that in merit but I think from a racing fan, we want to see all of us a lot closer. I think that what you’re seeing behind the Red Bulls, we’ve seen quite a good championship this year, between the Ferraris, Astons and all the teams are looking a lot closer than ever before. So in some ways, the rule change has worked. In others, there’s still some work that needs to be done. If you look at some of the teams, they’re all capped but some teams don’t have the same resources in terms of whether it’s wind tunnel, whether it’s stuff that’s at the factory that the bigger teams had because they had loads of money to throw at it a long, long time ago and they can’t catch up now. So there’s always work to do but I think the sport’s done a great job and I do hope for the fans in future we don’t see Mercedes dominate for 10 years or Ferrari dominate for 10 years or any other team because I think that’s not in the best interest of what us drivers want or what the fans want or what the team want. We want close competition and I hope that gets better and better.
Q: (Phil Duncan – PA) Lewis, we’ve obviously spoken a bit about your contract this year but when did you actually get it signed? And you spoke about unfinished business; do you think in those two years or the next two years you’ll be able to win those championships or do you envisage that you might need another contract beyond the one that you’ve just signed?
LH: Contract-wise, we got it done this week. Actually, the stuff was finished last week, last weekend. I’m not working towards next year thinking that it’s going to take another four years to get to where we need to be, but I’m aware that it does take time. Of course, in my heart, I’m so hopeful that the decisions we are taking and the direction that we’re rolling towards is that which will put us in in that target zone, to be able to fight the Bulls and be close and be challenging for pole. But if it’s not next year, we’ll continue to work through it. But in my heart, I truly believe that if it’s not next year, it’s the year after we will be there.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Lewis another question on your contract. Have you found that…
LH: Look, there’s a bunch of other drivers here.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) I can ask them about your contract!
LH: Well, you should just tell us if you don’t have any questions for these guys, because it sucks them having to sit here, but you should ask them these guys a question.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) I could put one to Alex!
LH Yeah. Go for it.
Alex ALBON: It doesn’t feel the same if it’s just a push along. But tell me!
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) A question on James Vowles and his influence on Williams. How have you found him as a team leader so far this year? And Lewis maybe your thoughts on James as well?
AA: Yeah, no, genuinely? Yeah. OK. No, James is great. Obviously, he’s come from Mercedes, he most probably was part of Lewis’s contract back in the day, but he’s come along, he’s got a lot of experience coming from Mercedes. I’ve said it a few times now but I think honestly, the best of James is possibly still to come. I think that a lot of the stuff that we’re doing right now is short term goals that we’ve been able to do obviously, things like tyres or whatever strategy he has prior knowledge, quick knowledge that you can get overnight, almost. But the real big things, the big ticket items are going to come next year, the year after that, and that’s what I’m excited to see. I’m really excited to see what direction he’s going to take the team. Speaking to him, he obviously has a close connection with drivers. And he does do a bit of driving himself so he gets this, he understands the language that we talk. We talk about it a lot at Williams, but we do have some characteristic problems in our car and hopefully if we can get them out of the way, I think we’re going to make a good step. It shows at tracks like Zandvoort, when we don’t have so many limited corners, we can be right up there. So let’s see.
LH: I love James.
Q: How much is Mercedes missing him?
LH: Well, James is exceptional and we had an amazing journey together, we achieve so much together. And we still have a very good friendship. And I remember getting the message from… I remember him being in the role and realising there was nowhere for him to really progress within the system. And I knew that just it was a matter of time that he would break away and this opportunity came up, it was so great and so right for him. And obviously, so many people questioned whether he could do it and you’re seeing such a great impact that he’s having there. He’s got such a great mindset. For us, it’s not that… of course we miss people that we lose but we’re very proud of people coming through, having a good time and having that success and carrying that on in their careers. And I think James was very much a part of setting up what the system we have within our team. So we’re operating off some of his philosophy and we’ll continue to do so. But I really, really hope that… and I’m excited to see the progress that they’re making there and I can’t wait to see Williams come further up. When you guys were up and in the top three last week, it was kind of cool, because when we were growing up Williams were right up there, so really happy for them and look forward to racing them soon.
Q: (Ian Parkes – New York Times) As has been mentioned, Lewis will be 40 – sorry, Lewis – when his new contract ends. To the other four drivers, can you imagine any scenario where you might be continuing racing when you’re 40 years old?
Esteban OCON: Time flies, but luckily I’m still young. I’m not as young as I used to be compared to these two on my left…
LH: How old are you?
EO: Twenty-six, almost 27. Thank you. It’s been a while I’ve been around. Thank you. I look old, is that what you’re saying? You look good, man. Tell me your skincare routine. I don’t know where I will be when I will be 40 but obviously, yeah, if I don’t drive a car for a week, I feel like I miss something and I need to get that adrenaline back and to get that rush again. I’m just passionate. No, I’m just addicted to driving. That’s who I will be for the rest of my life.
Source: FIA.com
