McLaren Mercedes and Hamilton have had a quite a year…
They certainly have, but don't forget that for all its highpoints – and for rookie Hamilton, there were many – McLaren walked away with nothing in 2007. It was stripped of its constructor’s points after the Ferrari espionage debacle, and even though Alonso and Hamilton were beaten by just one point, history only remembers the winner. And that was Kimi Raikkonen.
Time then for a bit of positive spin for next year. Hence the gilt-edged invitation to McLaren for a quick chat with the boy wonder…
Quite a backdrop for a chat…
Yes, it’s some place, the McLaren Technology Centre. Low, modern and sparklingly clean, it looks like a vast ying and yang from the air.
The Norman Foster-designed home of the McLaren Group based in Woking, Surrey was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2004. Short-listed for the Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize, the country’s most prestigious architecture award, the centre took four years to build because much of its half-a-million square metre footprint is housed underground – including the 145 metre-long wind tunnel.
It’s where every McLaren F1 car has been designed, wind tunnel tested, built and developed over the last three years. Think of it as the perfect lair for a 21st century James Bond baddie. And Ron Dennis.
So did Hamilton spill the beans about Alonso?
Not really. We were invited to talk to Hamilton so long as we threw in a few questions about the oil in his weekend runabout – the event was backed by Exxon Mobil, which provides Vodafone McLaren Mercedes with ultra high-tech synthetic oil for all its lubrication. The energy giant even wheeled out its resident Dr Oil, Tony Harlow, who works cheek by jowl with the F1 team to ensure the oily stuff delivers.
Yeah, yeah, but what about the real story of this year’s F1 season?
Not so fast. The F1 circus has taken plenty of environmental flack over the last 12 months for its conspicuous consumption. If the pinnacle of motorsport were about ready for a radical eco-rethink, then Exxon Mobile would be the ideal catalyst. 'Yes, F1 will need to address these issues', agreed Harlow commenting of the criticism levelled at the vast and hugely visible petro-chemical resources poured into motorsport. But he goes no further into details.
Similarly, Hamilton agrees that F1 might need to send out a greener message, but reckons there’s no immediate rush: 'A rethink is going to be something they will have to do. I’m just not sure if it will happen in the next five years, though. And I hope that any changes don't alter the actual racing…'
So what Hamilton’s take on the 2008 season?
Well, he wouldn’t be drawn on anything politically sensitive – who will be joining him at McLaren, whether he and Alonso will be swapping Christmas cards and what went on in that FIA meeting, for example – but he’s undaunted by the raft of new rules for next year.
One of the changes is a ban on traction control, but he's not bothered: 'Not having traction control should be interesting but GP2 (Hamilton was champion of the F1-feeder series last year) has no traction control so I’ve got the technique. I’m quite excited about it, to be honest, and I’m glad it’s gone. It will make it even harder to manage the Bridgestone tyres throughout the race'.
And he thinks he’ll win next time round?
Undoubtedly. There’s an unshakable confidence about Hamilton that’s hugely out of proportion to his five foot something stature. 'The goal is to win next year’s championship', he says with the kind of matter-of-factness that makes it sound like it’s already a done deal. 'And that means both the driver’s and constructor’s titles'.
A typically straight-bat answer from Hamilton, who already seems to have been assimilated by the ruthless McLaren PR machine. Throughout our brief chat, he dodges controversy like an old pro.
And he’s definitely leaving for Switzerland - for privacy rather than taxation reasons?
Apparently so. He reckons the media and public intrusion is too high here in the UK. 'I can’t believe how many people notice me everywhere I go. But then that was the price I was prepared to pay to be an F1 driver,' says Hamilton. We can't help remembering his recent TV interview on the UK's Parkinson chat show, where he did admit that fiscal reasons played their part in his move.
Hamilton won’t comment further on this season – for him it was over when he crossed the finish line in Brazil. He’s focussing on preparing for next year’s campaign, which kicks off with winter testing in Jerez. That and publicising his new book ‘Lewis Hamilton – My Story’. 'It’s not an autobiography, it’s just me putting the record straight on a few things', claims Hamilton.
Let's hope he's got more to say in the book than he has in our PR-hawked chat. Hamilton has real sparkle in real life, but you can just sense the brakes being applied by the smooth-talking publicity machine. And that's a shame.
Ben Whitworth
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_official_picture.php?sid=1275&page=1
