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:
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