Q & A with Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton: I think the car was just running too cool. It was just a protection system that stopped the car. They brought it back and started it up with no problems. So it was a slight hitch, but after that it was OK.

Q. In the second session you were fourth. Are you happy with that?

LH: I don't think it's bad. I think we've made some good steps forward with the car. We probably weren't as quick as the Ferraris today, but we had a lot of traffic on certain runs.

I thought today was quite good. Obviously we weren't top of the sheets, but we definitely had the potential to be there. I don't think we're slower. I just think that Ferrari have made a step forward - although we have also. So I think maybe it is a little bit closer this weekend.

But through the session, the key was not to go out there and be the fastest. It was to make sure that everything was right, and to try to improve the car.

But it's my first time here in a Formula 1 car, and it's quite a bit different to being here in a GP2 or a Formula Three. So today I was just learning, and I got faster and faster throughout the session.

Q. We saw some amazing pictures from Goodwood last week. How is your feeling going into Silverstone, in the middle of 'Hamilton Mania'?

LH: I haven't seen any pictures from Goodwood, but it was the first time I have really gone somewhere and noticed how many people ... there were 65,000 people there I think, and apparently a lot of them were there for me. It's a bit unreal. Luckily they really took care of me - I had quite a bit of security.

But people were going crazy, and it was really weird for me to see that. I have never had that before. Going into Silverstone, I am quite relaxed about it. I am looking forward to seeing all the people that are going to be supporting me.

Q. There were some reports that you were planning to move from England ...

LH: I never said that I was planning to move. I just said that if it gets too hectic in the UK, then (maybe). At the moment it's not a problem. When I go anywhere people notice me, but if it gets too hectic in the next couple of years then I might have to move.

Q. Does the battle between McLaren and Ferrari enter your daily life? For example, does it come up in meetings?

LH: No. I just have to do the job that I have been doing all season, and that just means making sure I am fit enough, working hard, making sure I am prepared for the weekend and not making any mistakes.

Q. What did you learn from Fred Vasseur and Nicolas Todt while in F3 and GP2?

LH: I had a great couple of years with both of them, last year in GP2 and also in ASM. I think I learned a lot from my engineers there, because they run a fantastic two teams in F3 and GP2. They really gave me a good understanding technically, because when you get into Formula One you really have to have a great knowledge of the car to be able to communicate with your team. That's what I learned from those teams.

But Fred also gave me a lot of advice and helped me to ... control myself around the team; helped me to bring the team, around me. He has been a great guy to be around.

Q. This is your first time at Magny Cours in a F1 car, but F1's last visit to the track. Do you have any good memories from GP2?

LH: I don't have any great memories here, if I am honest! In Formula 3 I think I crashed at turn 5, and I did the same in GP2. So ... third time lucky.

It's a different class, a different day, and I am looking forward to this weekend. I think it could be a good one.