'Almost Perfect' Says Hamilton As Mclaren Get Off to a Flyer
Formula one: A confident Lewis Hamilton said he could have gone faster after cruising to a season-opening win in Melbourne
Lewis Hamilton issued a chilling warning to his rivals yesterday after cruising to victory in formula one's opening grand prix of the season in Australia. The British driver labeled it one of the easiest wins of his career and said he could drive faster.
Hamilton won the Melbourne race in his McLaren by more than five seconds from Nick Heidfield's BMW Sauber and the Williams of Nico Rosberg. Only seven cars finished the accident-riddled race in 37C heat yet Hamilton emerged feeling fresh and already looking ahead to next weekend's Malaysian grand prix.
"I felt fantastic," he said. "I never thought it would have been as physically a breeze as it was. It is great preparation for Malaysia so bring it on. I am really looking forward to it."
Hamilton, on pole, led from the start. "I guess it was a bit like my first win in Montreal last year when we had four safety cars," he said. "It was pretty similar to that in that it was difficult to heat the tires and the brakes up. It was a good challenge but we've all done a great job. It's probably the best race I've had so far - in terms of managing tires, controlling my pace and confidence, and being comfortable in the car.
"Coming into your second season, this is a sort of target I set myself, and so I guess I've put more pressure on myself this year. This perhaps feels better than any, because I feel I've improved in so many areas. But I wouldn't say it's the perfect win. There are a lot of areas I can improve."
Last year, Hamilton's first in formula one, ended in heartbreak when he lost the championship in the final race of the season in Brazil.
He added: "It's an emotional feeling to win the first grand prix of the season, especially with all the winter testing, the whole build-up, not really knowing whether you had the pace of everyone else, whether you would be able to win, whether the cars could be reliable."
Ron Dennis, the McLaren chairman, added his praise for Hamilton's efforts. "It was an almost perfect race weekend for us," he said. "Lewis drove a faultless race with a strong strategy."
Hamilton won the Melbourne race in his McLaren by more than five seconds from Nick Heidfield's BMW Sauber and the Williams of Nico Rosberg. Only seven cars finished the accident-riddled race in 37C heat yet Hamilton emerged feeling fresh and already looking ahead to next weekend's Malaysian grand prix.
"I felt fantastic," he said. "I never thought it would have been as physically a breeze as it was. It is great preparation for Malaysia so bring it on. I am really looking forward to it."
Hamilton, on pole, led from the start. "I guess it was a bit like my first win in Montreal last year when we had four safety cars," he said. "It was pretty similar to that in that it was difficult to heat the tires and the brakes up. It was a good challenge but we've all done a great job. It's probably the best race I've had so far - in terms of managing tires, controlling my pace and confidence, and being comfortable in the car.
"Coming into your second season, this is a sort of target I set myself, and so I guess I've put more pressure on myself this year. This perhaps feels better than any, because I feel I've improved in so many areas. But I wouldn't say it's the perfect win. There are a lot of areas I can improve."
Last year, Hamilton's first in formula one, ended in heartbreak when he lost the championship in the final race of the season in Brazil.
He added: "It's an emotional feeling to win the first grand prix of the season, especially with all the winter testing, the whole build-up, not really knowing whether you had the pace of everyone else, whether you would be able to win, whether the cars could be reliable."
Ron Dennis, the McLaren chairman, added his praise for Hamilton's efforts. "It was an almost perfect race weekend for us," he said. "Lewis drove a faultless race with a strong strategy."
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