Hamilton: “I learned a lot”

Lewis Hamilton, world champion of Formula 1 in 2008 and who almost became one in 2007, experienced a much more difficult F1 championship this season. The Briton recognizes that the first half of the year allowed him to discover that there was life after victory. “ I learned a lot about effort, dedication, motivation: things that seem acquired when you are at the front but which mean much more when you are among the last?, confided the world champion on his official website.

Lewis Hamilton recognizes that the period he went through at the start of the year, before McLaren-Mercedes didn't raise the bar, made it different. “ I grew up as a man and as a pilot. I faced much more difficult obstacles this year than during my two previous seasons. I now know how to face them better than before. »

The 2008 world champion feels very good at McLaren-Mercedes and has no desire to change scenery. The Briton even thinks that the past year has improved his relations with the team. “ We have become much closer than before. Our ties have strengthened over the course of this year. We have been through a lot together and we now know each other much better. I appreciate it and I think that this unity will allow us to be even more combative next season »

This season, Lewis Hamilton has also been at the center of an unflattering controversy. After the Australian Grand Prix, the McLaren driver was found guilty of lying to race officials to take third place from Jarno Trulli. “ These were very difficult times on a personal level. But I used this experience to grow as a man. I think that every thing you do, good or bad, builds you as a person. You can't change the past but you can learn from it. I overcame this situation in Melbourne, I had the courage to declare myself guilty and, ultimately, I came out stronger. »

On a sporting level, Lewis Hamilton recognizes that the season has also been difficult. “ We quickly saw that we were not the fastest. But, during the Barcelona tests (pre-season), it became very clear that we were in difficulty, we did not have the pace of the cars in front of us. I remember a phone call to Ron (Dennis, former team manager) and Martin (Whitmarsh, his successor) where I explained to them that it would be difficult to win this MP4-24. »

« It was a difficult decision, but Ron and Martin gave me their unwavering support, continues the world champion. We immediately looked at a way to get out of this mess. So what was a difficult experience at first eventually turned into a positive one. »