First Interview: The champion speaks - the full transcript

Q: How does it feel?

Lewis Hamilton: "It feels great. I don't think it has hit home yet. I woke up this morning - I felt relaxed, I felt satisfied and I felt full of energy. I felt really fresh and then it keeps popping into my mind: 'wow, you are world champion'.

"Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be here. I had dreamed of having it, which is why it probably does feel like having a dream. That's why it keeps popping back into my head, to show it is reality. So it is a great feeling."

Q: Were you aware in those closing laps that first of all you weren't in a position to win the world championship, and then suddenly you were?

Hamilton: "Yes, I was fully aware of the whole situation. I think through the whole race I didn't know Felipe was in the lead - I just assumed he was. I didn't come over the radio and ask about it because I was focusing on my job. I knew I had at least to finish fifth, so I was focusing on that.

"I was in fourth, I was comfortable there. I was just trying to bring the car home, trying to look after the gear shifts, trying to look after the tyres and manage everything. Towards the end it got quite tough because I went out with a huge fuel load. As you know, we use our tyres more than most in certain places and I was on a huge fuel load trying to look after these tyres.

"Towards the end of the run, I was keeping (Sebastian) Vettel at bay but then the weather got bad. We changed tyres but I had less downforce than other people - we were fastest on the straights but for the wet it was not perfect. But we worked very hard to keep him behind - and the last two laps were the toughest two laps of my entire career.

"After I lost the position to him there was nothing I could do. I was pushing and pushing to get close to him, so I was taking more risks. Not unnecessary risks, but I knew I was in P6 and I knew I was one point away from world championship status."

Q: What were your feelings two laps from the end when Vettel passed you?

Hamilton: "I just thought: 'I've got to get him back'. You don't have time to lose focus or think it's gone, it's gone. You just have to think, 'how do I get him back? Where am I losing time?' You have to think fast as you've only got two laps.

"I was trying to analyse everywhere where I was losing time. My car wasn't feeling great at the time, so we were just trying to nurse the car as well as get every per cent out of it. I was close, but there were a couple of corners left and there wasn't enough.

"I had no rear tyres left so I could not get close to him. Then I think in Turn 10 they told me '(Timo) Glock is just ahead. He's on slick tyres and struggling. If you can overtake him then that will be great!" I didn't know if I was close enough and there were only two corners left.

"I came through Turn 11 and saw Vettel pass him. He was just about to turn into the corner and I shot up the inside. So at that point I relaxed and thought I should have it. I was expecting the team to go: 'woohoo, you've won the championship!' But they didn't, so I was panicking for a second."

Q: You've spent your entire career waiting for that moment. How did it feel?

Hamilton: "Once I crossed the line and found out, I was more emotional than ever. Afterwards, the media, seeing my family, seeing my team, celebrating with them. It was kind of weird because we did what we needed to do. We went there to finish in a certain position and for a racing driver to accept that you're not going to be winning that weekend was tough. But we wanted the bigger prize. It was exhausting, there was so much going on.

"It took a lot out of me last year but this year took even more out of me. There was so much going on, with people pulling me left and right. I wanted to just embrace the moment and I still am. It feels great; I woke up this morning feeling fresh.

"And I don't have to have that number 22 on my car any more. I can have number one on my car and that is the coolest thing ever."

Q: People in the UK are talking about you become the richest sportsman in the world. How does that register for you?

Hamilton: "I am comfortable in life. For sure, it is an amazing feeling to know that you have made some money. Considering I didn't have even one hundred pounds to go and buy myself some trainers when I was younger. To think that we can do that now is great, but money doesn't appeal to me.

"Any young kid given the opportunity to go to F1 would have done it for free. It just so happens I get paid to do my hobby and the thing I love. And, it is nice to be able to take care of the family. That is all that matters."

Q: There has been a huge reaction back home in England. You are billed as bigger than David Beckham, Britain's biggest sporting star. What do you think of that?

Hamilton: "I haven't seen it yet. I haven't been home yet, I just see you guys who I see every weekend! And you guys look a bit more tired than me - so I hope you partied last night."

Q: And you?

Hamilton: "Yeah, I'm in a great state. I remember last year I wasn't looking so good."

Q: You have talked before about how difficult fame is to cope with. Are you ready for the next level?

Hamilton: "I think I am ready. Every year you have new experiences which just build your character and build you to do these things. The first year it took a lot of adjusting. I think I have handled it okay this year and towards the end I have just got stronger and stronger - and that is how I will keep moving forward. I will continue to improve.

"I don't know what to expect when I get back. I know I have an incredible amount of support back home. But I don't anticipate things changing too much. I will go back, take a bit of a vacation, spend time with my family - but I am going to focus on next year. We want to do it better, do everything better next year if I can. That is what we have to work towards."

Q: People are now saying that you have a chance of adding more championships and could win as many as Michael Schumacher. What do you say about that?

Hamilton: "First and foremost, I don't ever plan on trying to reach any of his records. It doesn't really bother me. It's not something that appeals to me. Records don't mean a huge amount to me. I love racing. I love getting in my car and I love winning championships. It has always been something I love doing and that feeling you have after all the work, the people around you, and for you to extract more out of yourself. That is the most fulfilling achievement, so the records are not important.

"I want to get this (McLaren F1) car, so I will definitely work as hard as I can to get to number three at some stage. Just to get to one has been unbelievably hard, so hopefully the next one will be easier - but the rules change every year. It's going to be just as competitive every year and there are great drivers like Felipe Massa and Heikki Kovalainen, my teammate, they're always going to be pushing me and so to beat them every year is going to be tough.

"Each year I'm getting stronger. People say the second year is harder, but I don't believe that. I think you just get stronger, you learn from mistakes and hopefully I will continue to grow as a driver. If that means winning more championships, then so be it."

Q: What was the deal you had with Ron for the car?

Hamilton: "It was if I won three world championships. It was a car I always wanted, I got a car book for Christmas years and years ago, probably when I was 10. It had the orange McLaren F1 LM on the front of it, and that was my dream car then. Then I got signed up by McLaren and I saw it at the factory. Every time I have walked past it I have gazed at it.

"Even today it's the only car I stop by - apart from Ayrton Senna's 1989 car. I always open it up and just smell it - it is carbon, it's fresh, it's new and it's number one out of five. It's probably the most expensive car in the world, and that is the one I want. I told Ron, I told him that is the car I wanted. I asked what I had to do and he did the deal with me."

Q: What lessons do you take out of this season that you can apply to next year in your bid for a second title?

Hamilton: "I think this year was a lot different to last year. Last year we had a lot better consistency, perhaps less mistakes. But at the end of the year I was at a point in my life where I was thrown into the limelight. I was leading the world championship and the pressure that I could be world champion in this race was tough to take on my young shoulders.

"I think losing that world championship probably made me stronger and that is why we pulled through at the end of this one. But there were races this year that we won, we won some of the best races - Silverstone, Monaco, Germany - but there were races we lost, some through a mistake from myself. But we make mistakes as a team; we win and lose as a team. I think going into next year we are going to analyse everything that happened this year and just try and correct them.

"They are only subtle changes that can have a huge impact on the results. So we are going hard on the car, I want to be fitter when I get to the first race - which will be hard as I was fit this year. But just focusing on trying not to make those mistake, the way we approached this weekend, and try to be more consistent."

"Do you think as a sportsman you have that character where you make it exciting? Like Manchester United in football, everything is a little seat-of-your-pants?

Hamilton: "I'm not saying I am going to change my driving, that is what got me here. I learned for this race to take a step back to go for the points, so I can do that when I need to. Next year I will be stronger. Some races I won't be able to win, but I can accept that it is okay. We will take the positives from that race, move on and try and win the next one."

Q: What do you say to the comedians who threw you the black cat? Do you thank them?

Hamilton: "Not really. I have got a black cat at home and she brings me luck. I don't particularly have too much to say to them. The results speak for themselves."

Q: What does it feel like to be F1's first black world champion?

Hamilton: "I have not really thought about it. In my whole life I have never turned up at a race weekend and thought, 'oh I am the only black dude here'. It has never been like that. It is just we are a family who loves to race. We love the experience. My dad has always enjoyed participating or preparing the car, preparing mentally. It is the same for all of us. We have won the world championship and it is just amazing to do it.

"But the great thing is hopefully it can open the doors to other cultures. And hopefully youngsters can see that dreams can come true. I am living mine; I was living mine last year. I am still living my dream and I will continue to do so."

Q: We saw pictures of Nicole in the garage. Can you describe how important she is for you?

Hamilton: "Well, I think the important thing for me is that I have got my family. They are the most important thing for me - with all their support. They fly out to every race and they help me keep my feet on the ground. They help keep the balance in my whole life. There are so many things trying to lift me up, or distract me. And they are the ones that do their utmost to keep my feet on the ground and stay focused.

"She is just another part of that - that bubble and shield around me. She is nothing but positive energy. She is an amazing person. She flew all the way out here, as did my family, just to support me. And she brought me all that positive energy. It meant a huge amount to have her there, as it did to have my family there."

Q: Your father is here. He has been every step of this journey with you. Can you say what it means to you?

Hamilton: "I don't know what to say. He is a dad. He has been an inspiration. He has been positive in many, many ways. But he has been a dad. He has been a pain in the arse for some parts of my life as well. But he has been fantastic. It is easier for him. He stands there and I have to take all this on my shoulders!

"No, he has done all the work to get me to where I am. He has made all the sacrifices from the beginning. Even to now he is doing it. It is an incredible amount of determination, not just to me but also to the family. He is a huge family man and I believe I have followed in his footsteps. And the man I am today is a reflection on him. The world championship we have achieved is a reflection on him and the family. He means the world to me."

Q: Now you have won the title, are you going to treat yourself to anything?

Hamilton: "Nope. I am happy. It would be nice to have a house at some stage, but I don't know where or what. I have a nice apartment, with a nice drum kit, nice guitars and I don't need anything more particularly. There are some things in the future that I might want to get, but there will be a time and a place. The reward is winning the world championship. What more do you need?"

Q: Do you see any similarities between you and Valentino Rossi?

Hamilton: "I think all sportsman have a huge amount in common. I haven't met Valentino but I have heard he is an incredible guy. He wins in MotoGP all the time and he is a phenomenal competitor. Even for F1 drivers, we can look at those and try and learn little bits from them - their style, or the way they handle themselves.

"But I am sure if I met him we would get on very well. I would love to meet him - I am a huge fan of his. He is incredible and it would be awesome if he could take me out on his bike one day."

Q: Are you hungover?

Hamilton: "Nope, I didn't drink last night. I had a couple of glasses of champagne, but I mostly drank water. I remember towards the end of the night I just sat there on the side and a song came on: We are the champions by Queen. I saw all my team members, my mechanics, my engineers, the catering people, the bosses, my dad, everyone - they were all so happy.

"I could just sit there and take it all in. It was just a feeling that you can't put into words - to see how happy you have made everyone, and how much work they have put in and how satisfied they are. It was really nice seeing that and after that I was up and ready for bed. I learned my lesson from last year!"

We want to hear from you!

Let us know what you would like to see from us in the future.

Take our survey

- The Autosport.com Team

Read and post comments