- Mercedes
Hamilton amused by Horner's equalisation comments
Nate Saunders March 26, 2015 « Vettel declines Rosberg's debrief invite | Massa: Williams has lost straight-line advantage »
Lewis Hamilton says he finds Christian Horner's calls for equalisation "funny" considering the success Red Bull enjoyed in recent years.
After Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg's dominant one-two in Australia Horner called on the FIA to rein in Mercedes. Red Bull dominated the sport before the V6 era started last year, with four consecutive drivers' and constructors' championships between 2010 and 2013, and Hamilton thinks that makes Horner's comments all the more bizarre.
"I find it quite funny and interesting that the opinion is coming from individuals who have had so much success," Hamilton said. "Bearing in mind it has only been one race, so to already have comments like this is what I find funny. It was a big step for me to come to this team that had so many years of poor performance."
Hamilton pointed out Mercedes never made similar complaints before its breakthrough season last year.
"They hadn't had the success of other teams and not once did this team complain to others in order to equalise things, they just worked their arses off. Joining that team and making that progress, now we are the best team, we have pulled together and done an amazing job.
"It is not just me here, there are 1000 people back at the two factories working day and night to build the best car and we have done that with the same rules and resources as the other teams have had. I am very proud of that."
Despite that, Hamilton admits the natural racer in him would like to see closer battles across the field.
"I love racing. Ever since I was in karting, I like wheel-to-wheel racing, I like going into a race not knowing who you are going to be fighting, who you are up against and how you are doing to out-smart and out-do them. The more competitive you are and when you are ahead on your own, you don't have that challenge and it removes that excitement.
"The great thing is I have Nico on my tail as it was in the last race, which still keeps you racing. If I was winning 30 seconds ahead on my own, I wouldn't enjoy that. Naturally you want to win so you will take it, but it is not overall the most satisfying thing."
Nate is assistant editor of ESPNF1
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