Formula One is all about the car, admits Hamilton

Mclaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton yesterday more or less settled the debate of whether the car or the driver has more of an impact in Formula One

Formula One is all about the car, admits Hamilton

Given the technological advancements in the sport dictating results to up to one-hundredth of a second, traditionalists have always opined that the car is most important in Formula One and not necessarily the driver. And Hamilton nodded in agreement during a media briefing before last night’s street drive as part of the Vodafone Speedfest at the Bandra Kurla Complex.

Hamilton at the BKC. Pic/Atul Kamble

“In lower race categories, all the cars are equal and there can be no alterations. However, in Formula One, the cars do tend to differ. The cars that finish among the top are much more superior to the ones that finish around the bottom. However, irrespective of whether a driver has finished in front or at the back, let me tell you that all the drivers in Formula One are brilliant.

“Obviously you can’t win an F1 race in a crap car, so the car is definitely very important. If you have a car that offers you better down force then it improves your braking ability and you can brake late. However, without that down force you have to brake early and so you lose pace and time. Having said that, every driver brings to a team some positives and skill. If the driver can perform to the best of his ability and save about one-tenth of a second, then obviously he becomes an essential part of the whole thing too,” explained Hamilton, who has been making headlines given reports of a possibility move to replace Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher who may retire next year. The driver however quashed any such suggestions. “There’s a lot of rubbish that’s being said and written about me but I don’t want to react to speculation. All I can say is that I am 100 per cent committed to McLaren Mercedes.

“I’ve been with them since I was 13 and they have been great. I now want to win my second Formula One World Championship with them,” said Hamilton who won the 2008 F1 title with the same team.

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