Lewis Hamilton looks re-energised after a strong start to the new F1 season (Image: Getty)
Lewis Hamilton vowed to « dedicate absolutely everything » he has to delivering in his second season with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion has a spring in his step again thanks to a strong start to the campaign including a first podium in red last time out in Shanghai.
And, as his old Mercedes team-mate George Russell pointed out, the fact he seems « all loved up » with new girlfriend Kim Kardashian certainly won’t hurt. Hamilton‘s form in the early weeks of the new season has gone some way to silencing those who have questioned if, aged 41, he is still at the peak of his powers.
He told reporters at Suzuka on Thursday that he has done it by « not letting all the BS that comes out of people’s mouths get in the way of knowing who I am and what I’m able to do – hopefully you saw that in the last two races ».
He added: « I haven’t lost what I had and, regardless of people who write that, I will continue to show up and train harder than ever. I was in Tokyo between this race and the last race. I ran 100 kilometres, and I know none of the drivers I am racing against have trained as hard as I am and giving it what I am, especially at my age.
« And I love that, that I still have that drive to push myself. I was at the hotel and several drivers walked in and I had finished my run, and I knew they were just getting up. The commitment is there more than ever, and I will dedicate absolutely everything I have to this challenge and these cars. »
That podium in China two weeks ago was secured when he won a long and very entertaining duel with Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc. Some, most vocally Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, have criticised the new cars but both Ferrari drivers said they had a lot of fun during wheel-to-wheel combat.
While Hamilton admits « there are bits I don’t love », he has found racing these more complicated but smaller and lighter cars « really, really fun ». He said: « That race I had with Charles just in the second race was one of the most fun races I’ve had. Other than that, it was maybe me and Nico [Rosberg] in Bahrain many years ago.
« I hope we get more of that, because that’s what racing is about – back and forth, back and forth, rather than one overtake and then it’s over. So I personally enjoy it. It happens in karting all the time, back and forth, back and forth. No one ever calls it yo-yo racing – it’s real racing. »
Even with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia rounds now cancelled, there is still a long season ahead with 19 more race weekends to come after Sunday’s action at Suzuka. Hamilton added: « There’s a long way to go and I’m under no illusions that it is going to be a really tough season.
« I’m trying to prepare myself physically and mentally for the long haul so that I can sustain the good performances I have had for the past two races. I never said I lost confidence last year. It is a natural part of a process as an athlete that you go through seasons like that and some of the most trying times, and the most important thing is getting back up and that is what I have done this year.
« No-one has done it for me. I did it for myself and that is what we have to do as individuals and that is the ultimate test as an athlete, to get back to being your best, showing up, and pushing in the face of adversity. »
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