Lewis Hamilton had a distant look and at one point the words seemed to catch in his throat. Asked to recall his fondest memories from half a lifetime with McLaren, Hamilton paused briefly and then began reeling them off, accelerating as if in a Formula One car...
On his cherished memories at McLaren
There are quite a few in the space of 15 years. The ones that really, really stick out are ... meeting Ron (Dennis) when I was 10, and signing at 13. My training periods in the gym and the pool, working like crazy back at the factory, working with the engineers, being on the podium at my first grand prix, losing the world championship in 2007 — it’s not one I want to remember; it’s a tough one — and then winning the next year, the wins since then, and the last grand prix (in Austin, Texas).
On leaving McLaren
I have no regrets, aside from the lack of silverware in his trophy cabinet.
On whether he should have won more world titles in Formula One
Absolutely. I feel like I drove really well in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 I was ready to do the same (but the car was not competitive). 2010 was not bad. 2011 was not good. I don’t feel I deserved to win that year as well. This year I feel like I’ve had the potential to win – and I’m pretty sure I’ll feel the same next year. I’m in the best place physically and mentally that I’ve been in for a long, long time.
- Sunday Standard