Hamilton Hopes For Home Glory
Lewis Hamilton will be going all out to win his first British Grand Prix this weekend.
The time has come for Britain’s top Formula 1 driver to win the British Grand Prix according to the man himself, Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton will be lining up for McLaren Mercedes at Silverstone hoping to win his first home Grand Prix.
Silverstone, the birthplace of the Formula 1 World Championship and the cradle of modern British motorsport, is the stage for Hamilton to prove himself again after a stuttering campaign this year.
"Of course, winning your home race is something that every driver wants to achieve,” says Hamilton.
“People talk of winning the ‘big four’: Silverstone, Monaco, Monza and Spa, but it’s more straightforward for me.”
"I want to win the first race of the season, I want to win Monte Carlo - which I did for the first time this year - and I want to win my home Grand Prix.”
"Those are my goals and I’m ready for the challenge at Silverstone this weekend."
Hamilton believes there is something different and unique about racing at your home track.
"There’s something about racing in your home country that definitely affects you.”
"You can’t really say what it is, but there’s something about the familiarity of your surroundings and the constant support of the crowd that gives you a boost throughout the whole weekend.”
"It’s not something you experience anywhere else but it does make you that bit more determined to succeed.”
"I don’t know about it being worth a second per lap, but being at your home grand prix does give an extra boost to your confidence because you know you’re getting more support.”
"And it seems to make you perform better. Last year at Silverstone, I found the support was just immense and definitely made the weekend a lot easier to get through."
Hamilton claims the Silverstone track is one of the best in the world and can’t wait to get to grips with it this weekend.
"It’s one of the best circuits on the calendar - a real driver’s circuit.”
"It’s super-fast - the first half of the circuit doesn’t require any braking at all, just little lifts and shifts down through the gears.”
"In fact, you need to watch the brake temperatures don’t drop too low because you’re not using them for much of the lap.”
"Where else can you experience that? Formula 1 just wouldn’t be the same without Silverstone - it’s become a British phenomenon.”
The British Grand Prix will take place at Silverstone on 4th-6th July 2008.
Can Lewis Hamilton win his first British Grand Prix? Are you going to Silverstone? Who do you think will finish on the podium? Let us know by leaving your comment in the box below. Alternatively, share your thoughts in the 50connect forums.
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