Hamilton: “I would have fought with the Red Bull”
Despite his collision with Kevin Magnussen at the start of the race, Lewis Hamilton finished 5th. He himself believes that his race would have been very different without this incident on the first lap.
Certainly author of his best race of the season in Barcelona, Lewis Hamilton could have experienced a completely different Grand Prix if he hadn’t collided with Kevin Magnussen at turn 4 on the first lap.
In sixth place, the Briton finds himself having to do almost a full lap with a flat tire following the incident with the Haas, and subsequently ends up in 19th position far behind the pack. Regarding the collision, Lewis Hamilton does not feel at fault. « I was just on my normal trajectory, on the inside, and he came out of nowhere and hit me. He came from behind and hit the side of my car. »
After a radio intervention where his frustration was palpable, even suggesting to his team to abandon in order to preserve his engine, Hamilton starts an amazing comeback to finish in fifth position. A result that could have been fourth place if it hadn’t been for the fuel problem in the last two laps which benefited Carlos Sainz.
After the race, Hamilton appeared relieved that his Mercedes was finally in a better rhythm. “It’s a great sign that we are heading in the right direction,” declares the Briton. “I have no doubt that at some point [we will be able to fight for victories] because today, if I hadn’t had that, I would have been battling with the Red Bulls. So it gives me hope that at some point we will fight for the win.”
« A race like this is like a victory, and it does more good, most of the time, than a victory when you come from so far. Ultimately, there was adversity in this race, starting from so far.
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Hamilton also revealed that a conversation with a sick child on Saturday had motivated him for the race. « There was a girl whom I spoke to yesterday, who was my little inspiration, Isla, a five-year-old child who is in the terminal phase, and she said to me, “Can you win the race for me tomorrow?” I said that I don’t know if I can win the race, but that I will give it my all. So for me, it was kind of like a victory, and I dedicate it to her. » A beautiful tribute.
