Hamilton had ‘fun’ with tough battles at Miami GP

MIAMI, Florida (CMC):

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said he had “fun” driving in the Miami Grand Prix after he finished sixth in the race on Sunday in the American state of Florida.

The British race car driver with Grenadian heritage initially struggled for pace on the hard tyre in the opening stint in the Mercedes W15 before he engaged in a fierce fight with the Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg of Germany across several laps at the Miami International Autodrome.

McLaren driver Lando Norris secured his first Formula 1 victory on Sunday at the Miami Grand Prix – and in doing so – the Briton broke the dominance this season of formidable three-time defending champion, Max Verstappen of the Netherlands.

But for Hamilton, 39, he was encouraged by the level of the performance of his car across the weekend, with his final position marking his best result of the season so far.

Hamilton also brought the pressure to bear on Red Bull Racing No. 2 driver Sergio Perez of Spain when it appeared the pace of the W15 increased on the medium compound in the latter half of the race, but he was unable to find a way past.

“I’ve had so much fun,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed this weekend race-wise. It’s been a lot of fun on track. [I’ve had] really great, tough, close battles. I mean, going out to Turn 11, up against the wall, wheels locked – I was like, ‘Oh jeez! This could be either a big crash into this corner or I’m going by’.

“I love that. I had that, in zero fear in that moment, so I’m super grateful for that. Then to be able to hold on to the [Red] Bulls, to a Red Bull, was really quite cool, great job by my team.”

Verstappen led for the first half of the race, but Norris won by more than seven seconds in his upgraded McLaren – with the help of a safety car.

“Massive congratulations to Lando,” Hamilton said. “[I] won my first Grand Prix with McLaren, I know how special it is to get that first one, so huge congratulations to him.

“He truly deserves it, and McLaren – wow. I’m really, really happy for them. It’s my old family.”

In the five previous races to Miami, Norris secured a podium finish in both Australia and China, along with top-six finishes in Bahrain and Japan.