Hamilton: Nobody knows why we were fast

After the podium in Vegas, Lewis Hamilton spoke about the car’s speed, end-of-season opportunities and young drivers…

Q: Lewis, you were incredibly motivated to fight, you rode at an excellent pace. Did you like it?
Lewis Hamilton: I had a great time. It was like being a kid at Rye House karting track, starting at the back and working my way to the front. The balance in the race was really good. The car behaved much better than in the qualifying final. The team found an opportunity to improve.

Question: Do you hope the car will be just as fast in Qatar?
Lewis Hamilton: I have no idea. No one on the team knows why we were so fast this weekend. Let’s see how everything turns out in Qatar. Normally in warm conditions we are less competitive, but it won’t be so hot and the asphalt will be very slippery – this can help us. We were in good form there last year, but there are potential problems in Abu Dhabi. Let’s see.

Question: Max Verstappen has just won his fourth world title. What can you say about him?
Lewis Hamilton: Max did a fantastic job. He didn’t make a single mistake and achieved his goal every time. He and his team have done the best work for the fourth year in a row. I think they will be hard to beat in 2025 as they will probably be the first to switch to a car for next season. But yeah, I’m very happy for him.

Q: You said that after the recent disappointments you even thought about ending the season early. How important was it to have a Vegas-like weekend afterward?
Lewis Hamilton: Yes, we performed well here. I had no doubt that I could do this. I’ve had a lot of similar races, but I’m glad I was able to recover.

This time the car allowed us to fight and overtake, which is always fun. If I started from pole and just stayed in the lead, it wouldn’t be so great. Dealing with difficulties is much more pleasant.

Q: What do you think of the Las Vegas Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton: Great place, great race. It’s always difficult when the stages are consecutive, especially for those who work in the pits and after the finish prepare the car to be sent to the next stage. They have no opportunity to rest. But they love racing and will never give it up.

Great stage. The organizers have done a great job this year and I look forward to returning in 2025.

Question: There will be several new young drivers coming to Formula 1 next year. What advice do you have for them?
Lewis Hamilton: I don’t know. Don’t do absolutely everything you’re told. Ask lots of questions. Take your time. Don’t let negativity take over you, even though people these days are quite negative and judge you all the time. Stay away from social media, keep your family and closest friends close to you.

Young drivers are trained in youth series, but in Formula 1 everything is different. I remember being 22 years old and coming here for the first time. It’s like you’re in a dark place, struggling as best you can, trying to please everyone, and people are taking advantage of you.

If I had a young rider, I would surround him with a support group and protect him from social networks and the media. Protection is very important.

It is not enough to give the drivers a car; they should not be led astray if they make mistakes. Who among those present has not made a mistake at the age of 18 and 19? But in Formula 1 you are suddenly in the spotlight and it is very difficult to deal with that. That is why we must support newcomers, give them not one, but two chances, then we can expect results.