Back-in-form Hamilton still challenged by 'easy' wins
Back-in-form Hamilton still challenged by 'easy' wins
Lewis Hamilton has insisted his lights-to-flag Formula 1 wins remain a challenge from behind the wheel even if they may not be fun for the fans.
Following a difficult season-opening weekend in Austria in which the six-time F1 champion was hit with a grid penalty and a time penalty, while there were repeated warnings during the race to stay off the kerbs for fear of a DNF, Hamilton bounced back in spectacular fashion for the second race at the Red Bull Ring.
The Mercedes driver produced arguably one of the best qualifying laps of his career to claim pole position in horrific wet conditions by 1.2 seconds, and then produced a faultless performance during a race in which he was never troubled.
Reflecting on the two weekends overall, and in particular, analysing the second of those, Hamilton provided a lengthy assessment.
"When you're doing a good job, and you're doing it the way you know you can do it, there really isn't a much better feeling," said Hamilton.
"I honestly feel I prepared the best I could for the first race. Ultimately, there were some scenarios and choices that could have been made better, or better circumstances I could have put myself in, and there was a domino effect of these things that tend to happen.
"For the second weekend I started off with a positive frame of mind, obviously P1 [first practice] was good; P2 was a bit of a disaster, but I sat with the guys, we dissected the data and [we] tried to pull it all together.
"Going into the Saturday it rained, and I was just hoping to get out and qualify. I was actually quite happy we didn't have P3 because it would have given everyone else more practice running, so I knew what I had to do if qualifying started.
"And that's what I did. I kept my head, I didn't make any mistakes, and then obviously for the race, [setting out] with the same mind frame as Saturday.
"Of course, it's much different starting first than it is from fifth. Nonetheless, I would always say I enjoy races more fighting from further back. That's the way it's been since I was a kid, since I first started in karting because I was always at the back in a shitty go-kart.
"But leading from the front is a different scenario, and I will definitely take it. It's a different type of management, a different type of race, and perhaps not fun for you [media] and the fans to watch, but I wouldn't say any less challenging for myself, just different.
"I tried to affect it the best way I could and I think I got everything and more."
Hamilton, though, is not taking anything for granted, particularly from Red Bull's Max Verstappen, from whom he is expecting more of a tougher challenge as the season moves on.
"Max was quite quick," added Hamilton, following the Dutchman's third place in Styria. "So it just shows that they’re definitely not a pushover.
"I think they’ve done a fantastic job so we’ve got to stay on our toes. We’ve got to go to places like Hungary, where the shorter Red Bull is usually very, very strong."
Before you go:
Ricciardo buoyed by much-improved Renault
Wolff "100% certain" Red Bull will roar back in Hungary
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Haas announce Hulkenberg EXIT as F1 star's new team confirmed
- 43 minutes ago
F1 team set to axe BOTH star drivers
- 5 minutes ago
Red Bull to lose F1 MVP as true cost of Horner saga hits
- 2 hours ago
F1 pundit reveals the thing about Wolff that ANNOYS Horner
- 2 hours ago
Newey exit DATE revealed as Red Bull F1 chief set to leave
- 3 hours ago
F1 News Today: Red Bull star set to QUIT team as F1 legend reveals flood of death threats
- Today 06:27
Related news
Incredible statistic puts Verstappen AHEAD of Hamilton record
Fierce rival calls Hamilton F1's GOAT in surprise admission
Hamilton sends strong message over Gaza deaths
Former F1 chief hits out at Hamilton 'EXCUSES'
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860