This weekend witnessed MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team driver, Lewis Hamilton, crowned 2015 FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Champion at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. The win marks Lewis’ second consecutive title and his third time as Formula One World Drivers’ Champion – which he achieved this year with three races still to go!
Lewis dominated the season from the opening race in Melbourne, Australia, clocking up 10 victories and 14 podium places to secure his title.
Inside BlackBerry Blog caught up with Lewis and had a quick fire question time with him to find out what it feels like to be a champion, what inspired him to be an F1 driver, what’s the current ring tone on his BlackBerry Classic device, and much, much more!
Q: Congratulations on an awesome achievement Lewis! How does it feel to be three times World Champion?
A: It’s an overwhelming moment. Remembering my first British Championship, when my dad and me drove home singing ‘We Are the Champions’. Thinking about how much my family sacrificed – my Mum, my Dad, my whole family. And also thinking about my fans. They give me so much energy and I hope I inspire them to never give up on their hopes and dreams.
Q: It was a touch race out there – how did it feel knowing the Championship crown was within your reach?
A: The race today was really amazing and anything could have happened. The last 10 – 15 laps were extraordinary – it was just a crazy, crazy race. I was in the lead, then I was fourth and the conditions were really tricky. Nico was driving really well, too. All the way through, I was thinking; “The Championship is there somewhere… how can I get it?” It was so close I could smell it and there was never a moment I didn’t believe I could do it. It’s just incredible to equal Ayrton, too. My target was always three titles as he was the one who inspired me. There is no one I want to equal now – I just want to carry on as far and long as I can. For any driver, you want to win in anything you compete in – but this is the ultimate goal. Championships mean greatness – yours and your team’s! This Team has been so amazing. I feel incredibly thankful. I thought I would win with this team, so that’s why I moved… and I did!
Q: What inspired to you to become an F1 driver?
A: I loved cars as a kid. I started watching Formula One when I was five and I saw Ayrton Senna and I wanted to do the same thing.
Q: Other than now, what era would you have liked to race in and why?
A: Mid to late eighties. That was my favourite era. I think the cars were the coolest then – wide tyres, real low wide-bodied cars, stick-shift.
Q: What’s your favourite race track and why?
A: I have a couple. My favourite track is Monaco, it’s good for driving because there’s no room for error. Another favourite race track is Suzuka in Japan because of the history and also the layout, they don’t make tracks like that anymore. It slopes up a hill through the whole first section then downhill then goes back up again before leading to a bridge and crossing over itself.
Q: If you could race anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
A: London. I’d love to come past Parliament and through the Queen’s garden! If London was to host a Grand Prix which I think they could easily, it would be one of the biggest events ever. Tourism here is huge and it would be crazy!
Q: What does it feel like when you’re sitting on the grid at the start of a race, waiting for the lights to go out?
A: It feels absolutely awesome. You pull up to the grid, you make sure you’re in neutral, you’re looking at the controls, making sure you’ve got them all right, making sure you’re in the right spot and then you’re waiting. You’ve got to do a clutch warming sequence and then you wait for all the other cars but otherwise you’re looking at the lights and you’re sitting there waiting and your heart’s racing. I feel pretty at peace during that period of time – you want to be as relaxed as you can, your heart’s racing, but I’m super calm and I’m just looking at the lights. Then as soon as the first light comes on you select your first gear and you know that as soon as you react it’s always going to be different. It’s probably the most exciting time of the whole weekend because it’s different every race.
Q: Fitness is important to maintain your stamina – what do you do to train and how much time is dedicated to fitness?
A: Fitness is super important. Energy levels are as well, and diet. Training wise I do a lot of cardio, a lot of running and a lot of swimming. I like running, I like going places so I generally run about 30-45 minutes in a direction and then turn around and go back. That’s my morning routine and then in the afternoon I’ll do gym. I run to the gym which is about 15 minutes warm-up and then when I get there I generally do an hour or an hour and a half work that focuses on core stability because I can’t be big or bulky
Q: Your win in Japan this September placed you alongside Ayrton Senna on 41 race wins at a track that was such a big part of his racing career – how does that feel?
A: It feels incredible. To think I started watching Senna at such a young age and now have the same amount of wins as him just doesn’t compute, it doesn’t feel real. Imagine you grew up watching Michael Jackson and the next thing you know you’re the king of pop. I feel very privileged and fortunate to have had this opportunity. And grateful, very grateful.
Q: Looking at more general things, what music are you listening to at the moment?
A: At the moment I’m listening to Travis Scott’s album, that’s my favourite right now.
Q: What’s your secret indulgence?
A: I don’t really have any secret indulgences. I love sweets! But I don’t really have them too often – if they’re in the same room as me then I’m done, no chance!
Q: What are your top tips for packing a suitcase?
A: I hate packing! The best thing to do is to write a list of things you need. I also write a list of the days and what I’m going to be doing each day – so I’ve got this event and what am I going to need for it… then I basically put the looks together and then I pack them as looks. Then when I get those places I don’t have to worry about putting stuff together it’s already set.
Q: Where is your favourite place to relax and unwind?
A: My favourite place probably in the world is Hawaii. Sitting on a surf board as the sun comes up or sunsets. Sitting waiting for a wave, that for me is the most relaxing place.
Q: We saw the balancing ball trick – what other tricks have you taught your dogs?
A: They don’t really know any other tricks. They know how to stay! Honestly Coco is so lazy – I’d be amazed if there was a more lazy dog than her. She’s the laziest dog in the world I think. I feel like taking on her Britain’s Got Talent and saying ‘Lay! Don’t move!’ and people will just see how she doesn’t do anything.
Q: Finally, a few questions about your BlackBerry device – which BlackBerry smartphone you are currently using, and why you’ve gone for that particular model?
A: I personally use a Classic which I like. I just got a new one as well, it’s cool. But I’m excited to try the Priv when it comes out, because it’s Android and I can have all the apps on it.
Q: Who did you last send a BBM to?
A: The last BBM I sent was to my engineer.
Q: What’s the ringtone on your phone?
A: I put music on it, like a Drake track or something.
As the Official Mobile Computing Partner of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, BlackBerry would like to congratulate Lewis on this incredible achievement. And congratulations to the entire MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team for a remarkable race season and for winning both the 2015 FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Championship and the 2015 FIA Constructors’ World Championship!
Join the BBM Channel
Keep up to speed with the team throughout the 2015 season by joining the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team’s BBM Channel via pin C00011785.
by Eric Lai via Inside BlackBerry
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