Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton has his sights set on the Canadian Grand Prix as the paddock heads to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this weekend.
Mercedes recorded their best outing in 2023 at the Spanish Grand Prix last time out with a double podium, Hamilton claiming second. The 38-year-old described his car in Barcelona as the best he had driven in 15 months.
Hamilton is the joint-most successful driver in Montreal with seven race wins along with Michael Schumacher and says he is thrilled to witness the energy from the crowd once again.
“I think it is one of the driver’s favourite circuits, for sure,” Hamilton said.
“It is the city, it is the energy. I was asking one of the Canadians recently like, ‘is the city the same when we are not here?’ But the energy is always great.
“We have got an amazing crowd since the beginning and the track is, like – you have got these long, long straights, but it is a bit like a go-kart track in some (ways) and how you have to throw the car over the kerbs. And it is just… Yeah, it has always dwelled well with me.”
2007 ???? 2010 ???? 2012 ???? 2015 ???? 2016 ???? 2017 ???? 2019 ????
Lewis Hamilton loves Canada. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8U1W8dOSwB
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 15, 2023
Hamilton once again stated he has met with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff on talks regarding a contract extension with the eight-time constructor champions. He however failed to stress on the progress of those talks.
“No, we (himself and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff) have never had pizza (together). But, yeah, I have seen Toto. We have talked several times, and so we have a great relationship. But there is nothing else to say at the moment (with his contract discussions at Mercedes).”
Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes runs out at the end of 2023. He currently sits fourth in the drivers drivers’ championship behind Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso.
