GP RACING APRIL 2020 27
Essential guideto the business of F1STRAIGHT
TALK
Youwouldn’twanttobeupagainst Lewis
Hamilton. Listen tohim talk about the things that
excite him and you start to feel for the competition.
Here is one of the greats who has reached that
phase of his career where he goes into each season
and every race sure in the knowledge of how towin. Confident too that he drives for a teamwhich
can keep giving him the tool to do the job.
Having had almost an hour to gently interrogate
him – that is just me, him and 400 rapt executives
in a Singapore conference hall – thetop reaction
came from a delegatewho isn’t even an F1 fan.
“He’s a bit special, isn’t he? So muchcalm ,
focusedenerg y. Inspirational.”
It’s something I’ve noticed before with multiple
world champions – the oneswho have tuckeda
hat-trick of titles or more under their belt. They
have learned ‘The Code’ – they knowwhat it takesLEWIS KNOWS
‘THE CODE’
FOR SUCCESS
and how to repeat it. They’re like thepractised computer gamer who
already knows what’s coming,what it takes to be on the next level.
Ask him anything and the response is somehow instant yet studied.
How does he feel at 35?
“I’m the second oldest driver. I got to Formula 1 at 22, so I was one
of them as they are now, these youngsters.” The ‘youngsters’ are, of
course, Messrs Verstappen and Leclerc.
“I feel younger than ever, fitter than ever, more prepared and
more determined, which is strange because this is my 14th year
in the sport.”
Up close you notice how immaculately he is turned out, the
attention to detail inevery facet of his presentation. He happily
shares his love of fashion, explains how attending fashion shows
made him decide to move into this arena, and whythis part of his
life is so important to him.
“I have spent thelast five years trying to figure out what it is thatI
would love to do when I stop [racing].”
Is this breaking news? Far from it. He talks about being conscious
of how many sports stars reach retirement
with no plan for the future, and has decided
to up-end that. He loves what he’s doing, but
he also cannot wait for the next phase when
it comes. And ‘when it comes’ is three to
four years away.
Meanwhile the audience has never
heard the story of how ten-year-old Lewis
approached Ron Dennis at the 1995
Autosport Awards.
“I went over to him and said ‘HiI
am Lewis Hamilton, I just won my first
championship and oneday I want to be
world champion in your car’. I don’t really
know where that came from, because I was
generally quite a shy individual. Three years
later he gave me a deal and ten years laterI
won the worldchampionship in his car.”
The auditoriumerupt s into applause.
The more he explains the challenge
involved in winning, the more he smiles
and the more animated he becomes. This
is his territory.
“I love being pushed, I love the challenge.
That’swhatexcitesmemostly.Iamprobably
the most competitive person I know.”
What about the competition?
“I want everyone that I am racing against
this year to be the best they’ve ever been
because if you dowhat you plan to do and
beat them it’s even moresatisfying.”
He says this with complete sincerity, and
you believe him. Amazingly for someone
who has achieved so much, there’s still
plenty more to come.Deres et a nimi, nestempe eumexcerovit,
sequis mi, quatur, omnita duciet estrum ilis
enditae remporerum ea quam esPICTURE:JAY WONG.ILLUSTRATION:BENJAMINWACHENJEMARK
GALLAGHER
@_markgallagherIt’s not just in his Mercedes F1
car thatLewis Hamilton is seen
by many as inspirationalPRO
GP RACING APRIL 2020 27
Essential guideto the business of F1
STRAIGHT
TALK
Youwouldn’twanttobeupagainst Lewis
Hamilton. Listen tohim talk about the things that
excite him and you start to feel for the competition.
Here is one of the greats who has reached that
phase of his career where he goes into each season
and every race sure in the knowledge of how to
win. Confident too that he drives for a teamwhich
can keep giving him the tool to do the job.
Having had almost an hour to gently interrogate
him – that is just me, him and 400 rapt executives
in a Singapore conference hall – thetop reaction
came from a delegatewho isn’t even an F1 fan.
“He’s a bit special, isn’t he? So muchcalm ,
focusedenerg y. Inspirational.”
It’s something I’ve noticed before with multiple
world champions – the oneswho have tuckeda
hat-trick of titles or more under their belt. They
have learned ‘The Code’ – they knowwhat it takesLEWIS KNOWS
‘THE CODE’
FOR SUCCESS
and how to repeat it. They’re like thepractised computer gamer who
already knows what’s coming,what it takes to be on the next level.
Ask him anything and the response is somehow instant yet studied.
How does he feel at 35?
“I’m the second oldest driver. I got to Formula 1 at 22, so I was one
of them as they are now, these youngsters.” The ‘youngsters’ are, of
course, Messrs Verstappen and Leclerc.
“I feel younger than ever, fitter than ever, more prepared and
more determined, which is strange because this is my 14th year
in the sport.”
Up close you notice how immaculately he is turned out, the
attention to detail inevery facet of his presentation. He happily
shares his love of fashion, explains how attending fashion shows
made him decide to move into this arena, and whythis part of his
life is so important to him.
“I have spent thelast five years trying to figure out what it is thatI
would love to do when I stop [racing].”
Is this breaking news? Far from it. He talks about being conscious
of how many sports stars reach retirement
with no plan for the future, and has decided
to up-end that. He loves what he’s doing, but
he also cannot wait for the next phase when
it comes. And ‘when it comes’ is three to
four years away.
Meanwhile the audience has never
heard the story of how ten-year-old Lewis
approached Ron Dennis at the 1995
Autosport Awards.
“I went over to him and said ‘HiI
am Lewis Hamilton, I just won my first
championship and oneday I want to be
world champion in your car’. I don’t really
know where that came from, because I was
generally quite a shy individual. Three years
later he gave me a deal and ten years laterI
won the worldchampionship in his car.”
The auditoriumerupt s into applause.
The more he explains the challenge
involved in winning, the more he smiles
and the more animated he becomes. This
is his territory.
“I love being pushed, I love the challenge.
That’swhatexcitesmemostly.Iamprobably
the most competitive person I know.”
What about the competition?
“I want everyone that I am racing against
this year to be the best they’ve ever been
because if you dowhat you plan to do and
beat them it’s even moresatisfying.”
He says this with complete sincerity, and
you believe him. Amazingly for someone
who has achieved so much, there’s still
plenty more to come. PICTURE:JAY WONG.ILLUSTRATION:BENJAMINWACHENJEMARK
GALLAGHER
@_markgallagherIt’s not just in his Mercedes F1
car thatLewis Hamilton is seen
by many as inspirationalPRO