Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton delighted fans with a live Q&A session at Expo 2020 Dubai’s Al Wasl Plaza on Monday, and a revelation about a change to his name.
The British racing driver, currently competing in Formula One for Mercedes, toured Expo 2020 Dubai, including the Malaysia Pavilion, as a guest of PETRONAS, Title and Technical Partner of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. His visit comes ahead of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, which kicks off the 2022 racing season on Sunday, 20 March. Hamilton began the Q&A with Chris McHardy by discussing sustainability, one of Expo 2020 Dubai’s key subthemes.
What are your initial impressions of Expo 2020 Dubai and how was your visit to the Malaysia Pavilion?
During the tour of the Malaysia Pavilion, PETRONAS took us through their sustainability plans and target to be carbon neutral by 2050. It’s been really interesting to see the whole process and see how they’re getting young people into STEM and engineering in Malaysia – the kids are our future.
Can Formula 1 do more for sustainability?
I’ve been having a lot of conversations with Formula 1 about what they’re doing. We go into all these different countries, but in the past there has always been a lot of waste. There’s been a huge amount of work currently going on and you can’t do it on your own – it’s about having good partners like Mercedes, for example. We’re really focusing on pushing technology forward to be carbon neutral. Everything that we do is the best testbed for this, for technology, too. Everything that we’re working on trickles down into everyday use.
How would you describe your off season? How do you switch off and recharge?
I really needed the time to recentre and refocus. I was with my family, trying to be the best uncle I can be, creating memories with my family and I’ve come back to fight.
What version of Lewis Hamilton are we going to see in 2022?
I’m always trying to be the best version of myself. I think we live in a crazy time in the world so I think for all of us, it’s probably always about trying to stay focused, on being happy and being the best you can be every single day. I am focused on being the healthiest I can be and I think today, I feel the healthiest and fittest I’ve ever been. My work ethic is the best it’s ever been. I know exactly what I want and I know exactly how to get there. But it’s not an easy road. I know together we can do it so stay with me.
What would winning the eighth Formula 1 world title mean to you?
It would mean everything. It’s impossible to know what the future holds and what it would feel like but doing something that no one else has done before will be mind-blowing. I know it would mean so much to all of us, who go through all these different emotions through the year. Whether you’re on the road with me, at home or at the racetrack – you’re there with me in the car and I’m carrying you with me and still I rise!
It would mean the world to my family. I’m very proud of my family name, Hamilton. Most of you won’t know that my mum’s name is Larbalestier, and I’m going to include that in my name because I don’t fully understand the whole idea that when people get married, the woman loses her name. I really want my mum’s name to continue on with the Hamilton name.
How do you assess Mercedes’ pre-season so far?
The testing has been difficult. Years ago, we used to have a lot of test days but now we have two-and-a-half/three days in the car altogether so it’s not a lot of laps and when we go into this race this week, we’re still learning about the car and we probably will for the first four races at least.
We’ve got a lot of problems – you’ve seen everyone’s bouncing up and down. I was worried that I’m 37 and I’m racing against George Russell, who is 24, but he had problems with his back so it’s not just an age thing… These engineers love a challenge so it’s good.
What’s been your biggest lesson of your career so far?
We’re all so unique and different in our own way so you just have to believe that you are unique and you’re powerful, beautiful and strong. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we put our minds to it – that’s what I try and tell myself every day. No matter how many times you stumble, it’s not how you fall, it’s how you get back up.
Of your seven world titles, which one gives you the greatest satisfaction and why?
Having that dream as a kid to be a Formula 1 World Champion and eventually realising it was something quite unique and special, particularly knowing how much my parents gave up for me to even be able to follow my dream. There was so much going on though that I wasn’t really able to enjoy it that much and it passed by in a flash.
The most recent one was my favourite because there are so many more people on the journey with me and it confirmed my belief in myself after all those years when people told me I wouldn’t amount to much and those people would be watching the TV and thinking, I was wrong.
Which has been your most satisfying race win, and why?
Brazil last year. And Silverstone 2008 was awesome. It’s crazy that I don’t remember every single race win or even the failures, but I remember my first Grand Prix in 2007 and watching my dad smiling up at me – that was a really deep moment for me because he was a very hard parent. He wasn’t the most loving because he felt like he had to always be this solid rock but, in that moment, I knew that I made him proud.
Brazil was something that I didn’t even know that I had in me, which just shows you have got to keep pushing and you can always be better.
(Subcribe to AsianHerald : The way Up – Candid & Honest Storytelling with Dr Maya Rathod)