Lewis Hamilton spoke following the race regarding his extraordinary triumph at Silverstone.
Tags: Lewis Hamilton Published 7/07/2024 — GPF1.cz
Lewis Hamilton scored an extraordinary victory at the 2024 British Grand Prix, a major milestone in his rich career. The victory, his first in 946 days, has special meaning for Hamilton, especially given the challenges he and his team have faced in recent seasons.
About the peculiarity of this victory: “It’s an incredible feeling because it’s been such a long time. Someone just told me it’s been 946 days or so since the last win. It’s been a very challenging period, obviously 2021 and then coming back with a car that we haven’t been able to fight with in the last two years. It was incredibly mentally demanding. I think for everyone in the team, but knowing how hard everyone works, how I’ve been able to keep my head up, and with all the emotions of this year when I announced that I was leaving, and at the same time we started with a car that we didn’t think regarding , that we can win with him, and finally be in a place where we win, and not only that, but at the British Grand Prix in front of the home crowd… It’s honestly the most incredible honor to stand on top of the podium and hear the national anthem with the King’s name on it. This is the first time I have experienced this. And my family is here too.”
On the importance of this win for the rest of the season: “I am extremely grateful to everyone in the team. This victory belongs to everyone. Hats off to Niki Lauda for sure, but anyone who continues to work hard, anyone in the garage who keeps turning up every weekend and not being put off by results. George’s win last week was amazing, but it wasn’t based on pure speed, and I think this weekend was the first time we did it based on pure speed. No qualifying on the front row. And then in the first part of the race we both passed everyone else. And in the end, I think that with today’s conditions, the drivers might have made a little difference.”
On difficulties and faith in returning to the top: “Absolutely. It feels different than previous races, especially races where you have one race following another or seasons where you have multiple wins. I think with the kind of adversity that we’ve been through as a team and that I’ve personally felt that I’ve experienced, these challenges, the constant challenges, like all of us, to get out of bed every day and give it our all. And you know, so many times you feel like your best effort just isn’t enough. And the disappointment that you can feel sometimes, you know, we live in a time where mental health is such a serious issue. And I’m not lying I’ve experienced it. And there were definitely times when I thought it would never come once more. So to have this feeling when crossing the finish line, honestly, I’ve never cried following winning. It just came out of me. And it’s a really, really great feeling. I am very, very grateful for that.”
