ГП Монако

[hirondelle]

Льюис в очередной раз поразил на пресс-конференции. Насколько он откровенен и в то же время корректен. Как он заряжен на борьбу и в то же время четко осознает свое место в команде. Я не дерзну, как Попов, сравнивать его с Айртоном, пусть даже в одной этой гонке, я просто скрещу пальцы и буду надеяться, что он и дальше останется таким же.

отрывки из пресс-конференции

Q: Lewis, keeping up your brilliant record of podium finish in every race so far but very very close to Fernando going into that third stint, and it looked as if you might have touched the guardrail going into Mirabeau.

Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, I hit the barrier plenty of times in the race and I was fortunate that we've got a solid car. The team has done a good job as usual, and it's strong enough to take the hit. But yeah, we were quick, it's extremely difficult round here trying to follow someone. All weekend both of us have had great pace and it was tough. I tried to get as close as possible and tried to get ahead but... next time, I guess.

Q: Going into that third stint you were very close to Fernando. What was your thinking at that point, just to push as hard as you could, perhaps force Fernando into an error?

Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, absolutely. I knew that we were both extremely quick, and when you're behind someone you can't follow them that closely, so I knew there would be no way to get so close to him and overtake him. So the only way was to apply pressure and he's a two-time World Champion, he doesn't really make mistakes, so it's extremely difficult. He did a great job as well as the team, as always. We've made a fantastic step forward and as you can see, we were a good step ahead of everyone else today, and that's all due to the hard work the team has done.

Q: Lewis, you certainly caught him, but then did you just easy off, did you just decide that there was no point fighting for this?

Lewis Hamilton: I caught him up and... it's extremely difficult to overtake here in Monaco and he was obviously close to me, and I was told to take it easy. There was no point in pressuring him into a mistake, and then when he did make a mistake, crash into him so it was best to finish one-two but to be honest, I pushed as I could to the end. I never give up, no matter what, and so I didn't really take too much notice and I kept going.

Q: How did you feel about your start?

Lewis Hamilton: I thought my start was quite good. The key was to slot in behind Fernando -- obviously he starts on the better side of the grid which sort of sets him up for turn one. I wasn't going to do anything crazy. We're both leading the World Championship and we want to keep it like that but I think I had quite good pace for the first couple of laps and you just can't follow. It's been proved that, even up to four seconds behind someone you still lose downforce so considering I was that close to him for quite some time, it was good. But then I had quite a bit of graining with the front tyres and I couldn't get the car round the corners.

Q: And I guess you hoped that three lap difference between your first pits stops for you...

Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, I was actually quite surprised because I was fuelled to do five laps, maybe six laps longer than Fernando and they stopped me with three laps, so there wasn't much time to pull out a gap or improve my time, I wasn't really given much time for it. I came in two or three laps after. That was unfortunate but that's the way it goes.

Q: Lewis, did you touch the rail two or three times in your last stint?

Lewis Hamilton: Yes.

Q: Where? Mirabeau?

Lewis Hamilton: I hit a couple of barriers. I am not really sure which ones. I just tapped them.

Q: Lewis, for the first time this season you looked disappointed with second place today. It seems the pattern developing is that you are always heavier in the third qualifying session which gives the world champion, Fernando, the best shot at pole. Is this hampering you? Do you feel frustrated?

Lewis Hamilton: At the end of the day, I am a rookie. I am in my first season in Formula One and I have finished second in only my first Monaco Grand Prix so I really can't complain, but to see that I am of a similar pace to Fernando is a positive for me. But it is something I have to live with. I've got number two on my car. I am the number two driver.