Hamilton labels Azerbaijan GP as his "most difficult race"

  • Published on 01 May 2018 10:49
  • comments 3
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton says that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was the most difficult of his F1 career. The Briton took his first victory of the 2018 season around the streets of Baku last Sunday, taking the lead from teammate Valtteri Bottas with just three laps to go.

Hamilton was running in second place for the first half of the race, behind rival Sebastian Vettel. After Bottas inherited the lead following a late safety car, Hamilton dropped down to third. However, he would then move into second after getting past Vettel, who ran wide after attempting an overtake on Bottas.

"It was probably the most difficult race I can remember having, the most challenging race that I can remember having," said Hamilton. "All the wind, particularly, really made it the toughest race. It was like a wet race, and you know how tricky those conditions can be. It was very close to that," he added.

After dispatching Vettel, Hamilton then moved into the lead when Bottas was hit with a late puncture after running over some debris. The four-time champion admits that he felt weird to be standing on the podium after not performing at his best.

"It's definitely different when you think that somebody else has earned it," he said. "There's days when I've lost a Grand Prix and it's been gifted to someone else, be it one of the drivers who are here or one who has left. The happiness they would have, and it doesn't matter if they had earned it or not - there were fingers up in the air.

"I'm wired differently. I could have done that because I still won and you take what you get. But I like to win because I've outsmarted, outwitted and outclassed every driver out there. I'm grateful for the win but I felt the performance, not entirely me but also with the car, was not on par with what I'm capable of doing."

 

Fergal Walsh

reg

Posts: 162

as far as he was concerned, not only was it not a race, but he barely turned up.
Given a present of a win owing to stupid safety cars and an idiotic tow truck that looked as if it has been borrowed from an East End rag and bone man.

  • 1
  • May 1 2018 - 11:40

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • reg

    Posts: 162

    as far as he was concerned, not only was it not a race, but he barely turned up.
    Given a present of a win owing to stupid safety cars and an idiotic tow truck that looked as if it has been borrowed from an East End rag and bone man.

    • + 1
    • May 1 2018 - 11:40
  • The main reasons that he won was because he was at the right place at the right time, and because Vettel ran out of time to outrace him due to the long SC period. Not that he did a bad job, but he was very pale compared to some of his other performances. I honestly had hoped that they'd give us some more laps to "get going", but regardless it was a good race.

    • + 0
    • May 1 2018 - 12:08
  • 'Most difficult' yeah.. it must be incredibly hard to have a win handed to you on a silver platter. I'm sure Vettel and Bottas have a lot of sympathy for you.

    • + 1
    • May 1 2018 - 15:08

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Sauber
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 188
  • Country Finland
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Nastola, Finland
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile
show sidebar