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Hamilton: 'It was like an atomic bomb'

Lewis Hamilton continues to enter the Formula 1 record books with a snatched pole victory against Valtteri Bottas in Monaco. He did not fail to pay tribute to his friend Niki Lauda.

Published on 25/05/2019 à 19:26

Medhi Casaurang

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Hamilton: 'It was like an atomic bomb'

Lewis Hamilton Although he now has 84 poles (after the one established this Saturday, May 25 in Monaco), he nonetheless remains moved when performances are out of the ordinary. His lap achieved in the final moments of the Monaco qualifying session clearly required unprecedented physical and mental effort.

“This is only my second pole here, he explains on the microphone of Sky Sports F1. The previous one dated from 2015. Editor’s note). It took me a while to get it down. I don't often show my emotions on the radio, but, damn, I wanted my team to know how happy I was ! The energy in the car the moment they told me the good news was like an atomic bomb. I wanted to jump out of the car, it was huge! »

 

After clinging to the fence of a stand (as did Helio Castroneves en IndyCar), the five-time world champion in the discipline looked back on this performance. “It was nothing. A tenth is insignificant. You cannot react in this interval. What is it, a meter or two? It's pretty crazy. I don't know where I found the gap, but I didn't have a good first attempt, so I had to pull away for the last lap. I took big risks. Nine times out of ten, it doesn't pay off. There, it worked. »

It is not surprising that the Briton describes this pole as “one of the best that (he) can remember. » Especially in the following particular context the death of Niki Lauda, Monday May 20 at the age of 70. “We have made Niki proud since the start of the season. I know because he told me. This week has been difficult for the whole team. You don't know how much certain events can affect you, and I didn't expect to be so affected, he admits.

Niki (who played the role of advisor within Mercedes. Editor’s note) just wanted you to put us in the car, continues Lewis Hamilton. He would have said “Give it your all, motherfucker!” and that’s what I tried to do in every session. We will try to be worthy of him tomorrow (Sunday) to achieve something special. » Like a 77th victory? 

Medhi Casaurang

Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!

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