Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton took part in a long interview for Italian daily newspaper ‘Corriere della Sera’ and talked about the difficulties encountered at the beginning of this season as well as some aspects related to his career. Does the driver still believe in the eighth title? What does he think of Max Verstappen? What are his future plans? Will we ever see the Brit wearing the Ferrari colors? Let’s find out what he said:
Is Max Verstappen the strongest rival you have faced or one of many?
Lewis Hamilton: “One of many, I have faced many. From Fernando Alonso onwards they all had great qualities.”
Did you expect Charles to be so strong?
Lewis Hamilton: “You could see it. And I will add one thing: if I could sit with the fans over there, I would support Charles. I am a Ferrari fan.”
Since you are a Ferrari fan, why don’t you do your [Last Dance] in Maranello?
Lewis shows a tattoo on his forearm: “You see what it says here: Loyalty. Of course it would have been nice to race for Ferrari during my career, but things happen for specific reasons. Mercedes is my family, I will always be a Mercedes driver, like Stirling Moss was.”
Who will win the championship, Max Verstappen or Charles Leclerc?
Lewis Hamilton: “So you assume that we in Mercedes are doomed? Don’t underestimate us (laughs). Ferrari is stronger in quali and Red Bull in the race. But it changes with every race, and Ferrari has shown the can create a great car. And then Charles is very strong.”
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection from Puma! Enter the online Puma Store and shop securely! And get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
Do you feel you can win another title?
Lewis Hamilton: “I still believe in the eighth title. It’s not just about sporting records and titles. I want to win to carry out all the work done behind the scenes in favor of equality. Formula 1 is no longer what it used to be: they set up garages, we raced and then we went home. Now our sport is a source of inspiration. Help form opinions. And it is in good hands thanks to a great Italian manager. Stefano (Domenicali) is the engine of change. We need open people like him. He understands everything and everyone.”
How does a driver prepare to face these challenges even knowing that he will not be able to fight for the victory?
Lewis Hamilton: “I’m focusing on resilience. A quality present in each of us. Never give up. If you fall you get up. I must say that meditation helps. I do a lot of things, I have a lot of energy and I sleep just 5-6 hours a night maximum. If I sleep 8 hours I wake up tired”.
Leave a Reply