© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Lewis Hamilton attended the 2023 British Grand Prix Thursday Drivers’ Press Conference. Here is the full transcript!
Q: Lewis, if we could come to you now. Home race. You have a fantastic record here at Silverstone. Can you just describe the connection that you have with this place?
Lewis HAMILTON: Yeah, good afternoon everyone. So happy to be back. This Grand Prix is the best. Well, I remember coming here the first time when I was a lot younger, racing cadets. I think it’s around like the Brooklands area, they had, like, straw bales. I remember crashing. It wasn’t a good race. But then, racing, coming here for my first time in Formula Renault. And coming and watching the race, I think, for the first time – I must have been like 13, or 14 or something – with McLaren, and just standing at the back of the garage, dreaming of one day being in the car, and then getting into formula one and having the first year and it’s been phenomenal journey that I’ve had here. I remember the crowd the first time, in 2007, when I got the pole. I think that’s probably the only time I’ve ever heard the crowd over the sound of the car. So that’s pretty special.
Q: You mention the crowd, just describe what a capacity crowd does to the work that you do in the car. Is it as Nigel Mansell always said worth half a second?
LH: I wish it was worth half a second, because we really need that right now! I mean, I hope so. I think it’s hard to quantify. I think, overall, the crowd just lifts you and the whole team up. And there’s this kind of feeling of floating when you come here on that positive energy that everyone brings, and just seeing so many flags, so many caps and people supporting us. It really just helps spur you along. And when you’re in the car as well, when you see them, you can see them through so many of the corners on the outside of the circuit and it’s really just really encouraging. And I always remember my first win here, just continuously being encouraged by the crowd on the outside of Abbey and so…
Q: Lewis, Austria was a bruising weekend to quote your boss, Toto Wolff. You’ve got upgrades on the car here. What are you expecting from them?
LH: Yeah, so we have a new front wing. So it’s just one step, hopefully, further in the right direction. It’s not a huge, huge package or anything like that. But we’re just [going] step by step, hopefully trying to close down the gap. Obviously, Austria was not a nice weekend for us all. But that’s where we learn the most. That’s when we pull together the most as a team. So, I was in the factory on Tuesday and Wednesday with the team. And everyone’s back in, flat out, just focused on turning that negative into a positive here this weekend.
If you like SilverArrows.Net, consider supporting us by buying us a coffee!
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Q: (David Croft – Sky Sports F1) A question for Lewis. The upgrades, you mentioned them, step by step. If, at the end of the season, or towards the end of the season, they haven’t produced the results you want. How much of a bearing does that have on your future with the team? The contract is still not decided. I’m sure lots of people here were hoping for an announcement. Do you look more long term? Or do you think that we’re not heading anywhere with this project, it might be time to do something different?
LH: No, no, that’s not what I’m thinking. Before the end of the season we will be already well into the contract. I still have 100% faith in this team. And it has taken longer for all of us to get to where we want to be. And it’s definitely not easy. But I believe that we will get there. I think we’ve just got to continue to work and chip away at it. And that’s what we’re trying to do. That’s why we’ve got the upgrade here for the front wing, we will have bits over the following races, hopefully. It could come soon enough. But I’m pushing as hard as I can. I was having big meetings with the team earlier this week, speaking to the head of aero, to the head of vehicle dynamics, trying to… Also with what’s in mind for next year’s car.
Q: (Adam Cooper – Motorsport.com) Lewis, how excited are you that the filming has finally started? Can you give us a bit of an insight into what your involvement is going to be over the season? Because obviously you’re busy with your day job. For the other guys: any thoughts on the movie? And what have you been told about your potential involvement in the filming?
LH: There’s not much more I can say apart from what I’ve already told before. It was really exciting to see… I just saw Jerry walking in. I haven’t been to see the garage yet. But I know, on the other side, I was here a week or two before Austria, watching Brad practice. And it’s massively exciting to see it all coming together. And to know that we’re finally starting to film this weekend, it’s like there’s nerves naturally, because it’s something we’ve been working on for so long. And we want everyone to love it and to really feel that we encapsulate what the essence of this sport is all about. So that’s our goal. I hope we can do you proud.
Q: Lewis, did you give Brad any tips? You say you were watching him drive?
LH: I was just watching on the wall. So I don’t know…
Q: Were you impressed?
LH: I mean, he was just coming by flat out. But we did do a day together at a track in LA. And yeah, he drove… For someone that hasn’t raced, he’s definitely already got a keen eye. He loves watching MotoGP, so he’s always been a racing enthusiast. So he already had a knack for the lines. And he was definitely fully on it, which is good to see.
Q: (Luke Smith – The Athletic) Another one for Lewis about the movie. The authenticity is such a big thing that you’ve been playing a role in, talking to the filmmakers. To have F1 open its doors as it has, having an actual garage with an 11th team in there as well, how important has that been? How pleased have you been by the way the sport has embraced this project?
LH: Yeah, I’ve been really incredibly grateful to them. I don’t know if this would have been possible 10 plus years ago, when the old management was in place. They wouldn’t have perhaps seen this as an important step in terms of the sport’s growth. But we’ve already seen the great work and impact of the Netflix show and I think this will take it to new heights beyond that. So yeah, I think there’s so many people around the world, as you’ve seen already, that are so excited about this sport, wanting to learn more. And the fact that we will have all the original characters that are actually on the grid, and then Brad, is pretty cool.
Q: (Alex Kalinauckas – Autosport) Another question to Lewis about the film, please. Joe spoke last weekend about making it the most authentic F1 film ever made. I just wondered how hard is it going to be for the team when it comes to filming what you guys are doing in the cockpit to show what you’re really doing, beyond what f1 already shows?
LH: I’m pretty certain, I mean, our cameras are a lot better than what you’re seeing when you’re watching TV. I’ve seen all the footage of the camera positions. I’ve spent time with Joe, trying to make sure we’ve got the best camera positions and the frame rate is different, it’s going to look fast. I think it’s going to look faster than it does on TV. Because I think it’s something to do with the frame rate that we have to have. But Joe is an incredible director, and I think you’re going to see him really… You’ve already seen what he’s done with fighter jets, what is what he did with Maverick. So just think about what he’s done with that in terms of the dogfights you saw from those jets, which was pretty epic. And bringing that technology and that viewpoint into our world, I think it’s going to be amazing.
Q: (Matt Kew – Autosport) A protest could feasibly happen at any race but there has been a lot going on, with Wimbledon being targeted, as well as other events recently. And obviously, they did get onto the track here last year. So how concerned are you drivers as a collective? What have you been told about protocols? What can you do to avoid it if you were to come around a corner and see people on the track?
LH: I mean, we’ve not yet spoken with the FIA in terms of what we would have to do. But naturally, we’re really hoping that we’ve learned a lot from last year’s experience and that won’t happen this weekend. I believe we have 100 more marshals this weekend, who are there to be supportive and make sure that this doesn’t happen as well. And I think, at least from my perspective, and I think my team’s, we are very, very focused on sustainability. We believe in what people are fighting for. And we are making those changes as a sport. But safety is key. We don’t want to be put in harm’s way and we don’t want to put anyone else in harm’s way. So if there is if there was to be one, we hope that it’s not on track
Q: (Phil Duncan – PA) A question for you Lewis. After the last race, Toto said about your contract that you weren’t talking any more about money or duration, it was about other topics. Is that how you see it from your side? And also, Toto had a message for you in the last race about can you just get on and drive the car please. Did you speak to him about that? Did you have any bother about that comment from him?
LH: On your first point, yep, that’s correct, and then on the second part, the best thing about our partnership is that we can be direct with each other and Toto is just an out-and-out racer, so he was just trying to encourage me. That was his way of doing it. We always learn from our experiences. On my side, I’ve reviewed my comments and where I was at mentally and will make sure I adjust that for the future, and yeah, it was supportive.
Q: (Giles Richards – The Guardian) Question for you Lewis. You expressed sympathy in the past for the Just Stop Oil protesters, which you’ve just discussed. Would you support them if they protested this weekend – but without endangering life and without going onto the track?
LH: Yep. I support peaceful protests, so… yeah.
Q: (Anno Hecker, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) Question to all the drivers. Can you just elaborate please how much of an inspiration Lewis has been to you on your journey to F1 and also, how important he is to the sport – besides being a seven-times World Champion.
Charles LECLERC: I grew up watching Formula 1 and obviously Lewis was a part of the drivers always on top and fighting for Championships, so he’s definitely a part of me dreaming of becoming a Formula 1 driver one day. And I think of what he’s doing now. He’s going over the ‘only a driver’ kind of thing and he’s doing many more things outside of Formula 1 that are helping Formula 1 to expand even more – so it’s great to have him. Having said that, whenever I put on the helmet, Lewis is a driver like every other and I try to beat him as much as they others. But it’s great to have him on the grid. I think it’s amazing for the sport.
Q: Yuki, your thoughts on Lewis please
Yuki TSUNODA: So, the first time I saw him, I was seven years old when I went to the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji. My friend, a karting friend, was driving with his helmet, like with his replica. So, I can’t still believe I’m driving with him but he’s obviously, like Charles says, been fighting for Championships every year. Unfortunately, we’re not driving together, in the same field right now. We’re in different positions, I don’t feel like we’re driving similar… we’re driving in the same race but I don’t feel… but it’s definitely cool and I still can’t believe that 12, 13 years after I’m driving with him. Every time I see him in the track, it just feels exciting. Feels definitely not real – at the same time I’m really honoured and happy that I’m able to run with him.
Q: (Adam Nicholson – Total-motorsport.com) For Lewis and Charles, with you both locked in a battle, with Aston Martin as well, behind Red Bull with Red Bull looking a bit clear at the moment, are you worried that they’re going to get a jump on starting to develop for 2024 before you can switch to that, because you’re focussing on this season for longer?
LH: Not much more for me to add to that. It’s very much the same. It wouldn’t be helpful for us to just stop working on this car and focus on next year’s car. We’ve got to utilise the time we have to track to develop the car that we have and fix those problems, just as Charles was saying. And I’m confident we will get there. It’s just a question of how long that will take.
Q: (Keith Collantine – racefans.net) We’re all obviously aware of the terrible events as Spa last week, which have led some drivers to call for more changes to that track. Lance Stroll was saying he believes the Eau Rouge section is too dangerous and needs to be changed immediately, whereas Max Verstappen was saying actually it’s wrong to single-out Spa when there are other tracks, such as Jeddah, which are arguably more dangerous. I’d like to hear your thoughts where you stand on this please. Charles, I believe you already spoke to this in the press conference in Austria but Lewis, Esteban, anyone else who’d like to comment please.
LH: I don’t really know what to say. I’ll need to look into it. I think it’s definitely devastating to see that we’ve lost two youngsters in such a short amount of time – but I do trust the FIA, have done such a great job with safety. I know that’s such a focal point for them, they make so many changes, year-on-year at every circuit and I’m sure they’ll be looking very much into Eau Rouge and seeing if we can improve that. And, I agree, we do need to make some changes: you’re coming over a hill , you can’t see, particularly in the bad weather condition, and this has happened now twice. So, we definitely need to take a step.
Q: (Weian Mao – Formula Vision) Question mainly for Lewis. With the new calendar coming out, Chinese GP is back in next year. You are the most successful driver in Shanghai with six wins, and you always have a lot of support in China. How much do you miss coming back to China?
LH: I miss going there a lot. I’ve always enjoyed the trips out to Shanghai and the fan base there was continuously growing. Even though the race was quite far out of the city, we had, I think, a pretty decent turnout. I don’t really know why I had so much support there but very much enjoy driving that track. I’ve had some difficult races and some amazing races on it. It is an amazing circuit, so exciting to get back there for sure.
Q: (Alan Baldwin – Reuters) Another question for Lewis, about the movie again, I’m afraid. I know there’s a lot of excitement about it but one of the things that gets pointed out quite regularly is that Brad Pitt is 59. I’m sure his character will be much younger in the movie – but do you think audiences can suspend disbelief to that extent – and how much have you been involved in creating that with an older actor perhaps, and creating the illusion.
LH: Well, firstly, Brad looks like he’s aging backwards, so, I mean, he looks great for his age, and of course that was a big topic at the beginning when we were discussing the original… the first story. He’s super-fit, he’s been training, and I think with… at the end of the day, it’s a movie, so there will be a Hollywood element to it that will make it believable. Brad’s such an iconic actor, he’s always done such an incredible job, so I can’t tell you how excited I am to have Brad Pitt in the Formula 1 movie. It’s incredible. I think he’s going to do a great job.
Source: FIA.com
