F1 team review - McLaren

"Lewis Hamilton initially struggled to keep his head above water on both a professional and personal level this season.

"The 2008 world champion was my pre-season favourite but the McLaren car was not capable of helping him defend his crown in the early part of the campaign.

"Like most of the grandee teams, they put too much time and effort into the Kers energy recovery system and it simply did not deliver the performance gains against the extra weight penalty.

"The fall-out from the Australian Grand Prix, when Hamilton and the team backed themselves into a corner by not telling the stewards the full facts regarding his safety-passing incident with Jarno Trulli behind the safety car damaged his confidence and image.

"He has been very impressive in the second half of the season, scoring more points than any one else, until his retirement in Abu Dhabi, and comprehensively beating team-mate Heikki Kovalainen.

"Since the German Grand Prix, Hamilton has collected five podiums, including two victories in Hungary and Singapore.

"Hamilton has grown in stature and in many ways he has been even more impressive than in his championship year. He has show more maturity without doubt has learned much.

"I will never forget Hamilton's amazing F1 victories such Fuji '07 and Silverstone '08. He's found the winning way again this season and surely he has more world championships to come."

What three words would you use to describe what it's like to be a Formula One driver?
Adventurous, cool and fortunate.

What is the biggest perk of the job?
Getting to drive some pretty cool Mercedes-Benz road cars.

How would you like to be remembered as an F1 driver?
As one of the best.

What is your most embarrassing sporting moment?
Crashing the go-kart at an event in 2007.

Who is the worst dressed Formula One driver?
We are all wearing team kit when we see each other, so no-one is that bad.

Ayrton Senna or Alain Prost?
I'm going to say Senna, but I also have a huge amount of respect for Prost.

Spa or Monaco?
Monaco.

HAMILTON STATS & FACTS Team: McLaren Team-mate Heikki Kovalainen Car number: 1 Nationality: British Born: 07/01/1985, Stevenage Grand Prix debut: Australia 2007 World championships: 1 Grands Prix entered: 52 Wins: 11 Pole positions: 16 Podiums: 27 Points: 256

If you weren't an F1 driver what would you be?

A footballer.

Who is the greatest sportsman of all time?
Muhammad Ali.

What would be your perfect day off?
A day on the beach.

Where is your favourite place to go on holiday?
Thailand.

Apart from a house what is the most expensive thing that you own?
No comment.

What is your favourite item of clothing?
My special TAG Heuer watch.

What is your favourite music to drive to?
Bob Marley.

Which famous person - dead or alive - would you like to have dinner with and why?
I would change my answer to this every day. It depends what kind of mood you are in at the moment you are asked I guess.

You could go for someone like Will Smith or Eddie Murphy, because they would be hilarious, but then on another day I would say Ayrton Senna, and on another Muhammad Ali.

Tell us something about yourself that most F1 fans might not know
I'm a big online gamer.

Steve McQueen or Paul Newman?
Steve McQueen AND Paul Newman

Boxers or briefs?
Boxers.

Angelina Jolie or Keira Knightley?
No comment.

James Bond or Austin Powers?
Bond.

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