Lewis Hamilton motivated to end Nico Rosberg's run with win at British GP
"Winning your home grand prix the greatest experience," says Lewis
Thursday 3 July 2014 17:58, UK
Lewis Hamilton has vowed to “do everything I can to be out front” at his home British GP this weekend as he bids to seize back the momentum in his championship duel with Nico Rosberg.
Since winning four races on the spin between Malaysia and Spain to move into the lead of the Drivers’ Championship, Hamilton has been outqualified and outscored by Rosberg in each of the last three events, a turn of events which has allowed the German to open up a 29-point championship lead approaching mid-season.
Hamilton though is targeting his home soil of Silverstone as the place to start reducing that gap back down, with a repeat of his 2008 win top of his agenda heading into Sunday’s showpiece race.
“I’m not surprised with how close it has been since the beginning of the year. As every race, it’s important to be ahead,” he said in Thursday’s Drivers’ Press Conference when asked if he had been surprised by his team-mate’s sustained strong run of form.
“I had the advantage for a few races and Nico’s had that for the last couple.
“But this is the British Grand Prix and I’m going to do everything I can to be out front. Winning your home grand prix is the greatest experience you can ever have a sportsman and a driver so that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Although Rosberg has arrived at Hamilton’s home event as the man in the ascendency in the title fight, the Briton has suffered from his fair share of misfortune in recent weeks – particularly last month in Canada when the 29-year-old retired with brake failure.
Asked to assess what he had learnt from Austria, when he recovered to second behind Rosberg in the race after a pair of mistakes in qualifying, Hamilton replied: “There’s not really many lessons.
“It’s been three races now, or at least two races, where we’ve had a technical problem in Montreal and then at the last race I faced some difficulties on the driver’s side. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn’t, but you always grow. So we’ve learnt some things. “
As the man most likely to deliver a first home victory for the passionate British crowd come Sunday since his own six years ago, Hamilton is aiming to repay the support given him.
“It’s always a special week for British drivers. Coming here and seeing the fans – I’ve already been at Goodwood and seen the support that’s coming into this weekend – it’s very exciting,” he explained.
“The feeling of being at home is really great for me and the support for me and Jenson [Button] and Max [Chilton] is unlike any other place we experience. So really excited to hear everyone and put on a good show.”
Watch the 2014 British GP live on Sky Sports F1. Extensive coverage of the Silverstone race weekend begins with Friday Practice from 9.45am on July 4.
