F1: ‘I’m still number one,’ Hamilton tells Button
By Andy Darley
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
Lewis Hamilton isn’t quite ready to give up being Formula One world champion, despite the widespread reporting that he had ‘handed his crown’ to Jenson Button at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Like Hamilton, Button won the title by finishing fifth at Interlagos – but unlike last year the outgoing champion still has another race to enjoy the privilege of driving the car with the number one on its nose.
And, while Hamilton seems genuinely pleased for Button, in this video released by Vodefone he’s keen to remind people that it’s ‘game on’ for Button again next year.
He says: “First of all I don’t feel I’m ‘passing over a crown’ – I still have ‘number one’ on my car until the last race so I haven’t had to pass it over just yet.
“I’m very happy for him, it’s great that he did it for the country and I know he’s had a huge warm welcome back here. I think he’s probably just overwhelmed, trying to sit back and absorb it – it’s too much to absorb.”
But, smiling broadly, he warns Button: “Hopefully I’ll try and take it back.”
He also talks about the race in Brazil – how his disasterous qualifying run in the wet had felt like a potential pole lap while it was happening, and how the team had battled back to take a podium regardless in a “magical” race.
And he pays tribute to his childhood hero, Brazil’s Ayrton Senna: “He had such a huge impact on my life so, when I finally got there, I really felt his presence. I felt honoured to be there in his home country where he had won in the past for this team, I was so excited to drive there.”
See the whole interview here:
Disclosure: we earn a small amount of money each time this video is watched. And if you see it on another site, the same is true for them.
Related posts:
- F1: Tyre failure shreds Hamilton’s hopes
- F1: Polesitter Hamilton aims to end season with win
- F1: Jenson Button and Brawn GP win world championships in Brazil
- RoC: Could DC possibly get a turbo-charged Hamilton boost?
- F1: Button “pretty happy” with Spa qualifying
Read more about Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Ayrton Senna, Formula One, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton.
This entry was posted on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 3:09 pm and is filed under F1. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Don't forget you can keep up with Brits on Pole in the following ways: via RSS feed, or by receiving our weekly newsletter (and get a free F1 ebook when you do). Or follow us on Twitter or Racing Blips.
Author: Andy Darley. Ex-journalist, fan of David Coulthard and anyone who ever drove or tested for Minardi and didn't say rude things about the team afterwards. Owns a Triumph Spitfire and hopes that, one day, it'll be on the road again. Andy has written 606 articles for us.
