I have just got back from interviewing Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone today.
I must say that after some of the crap we have seen in the papers recently, this guy really is under a lot of pressure. To do what he does so well is phenomenal, and rather than the leeches abusing him, we should praise him.
Okay—rant over. You know the drill. I will be MG and Lewis will be LH. Let’s get going.
MG: Lewis, nice to meet you at last!
LH: Nice to meet you too man, who you write for again?
MG: Bleacher Report, the open source sports network. We have some extremely good writers in the F1 community.
LH: Cool man, I’ll have to check it out.
MG: Nice one. Right then, fourth on the grid. Slight error on your first run. Did that cost you pole position?
LH: I don’t think so. Heikki set a wicked time man, I don’t think that I could have gone that fast. I do think I could have beaten Mark though. Kimi set a good time too, so I think it will be very interesting tomorrow.
MG: With Mark and Heikki on the front row, unexpectedly, do you think that it has thrown the race wide open?
LH: Oh totally man, I mean I said that we would be happy with a podium, but a one-two is our target now. Mark’s time was brilliant, and if he can replicate that pace in the race, then we got a big fight on our hands.
MG: Do you consider Kimi a threat this weekend?
LH: Totally man, he pulled out a great performance today, and we all know he can go that quick in the race. It all depends on his strategy. We know what our strategy is, and no, I am not telling you. Ha-ha!
MG: Ha-ha! Okay, a lot of the press have criticized you recently, and then the triathlon incident occurred on Thursday. Do you take any notice at all to any one person’s opinion on you?
LH: I don’t read any of the crap in the papers man. You can’t, because if you do then it will probably get to you. Everyone talks about how I’m the first to receive that kind of crap, but Damon Hill was labelled a prat on the front of The Sun in 1995.
He took out Michael Schumacher and himself in the process. I am not the first and I won’t be the last, but it won’t get to me.
MG: Some fans in the Formula One circus have spoken out on the penalties that McLaren have received recently. Some have cited the fact that you had passed the Toro Rosso before running wide at Magny Cours.
You were then told you could continue before having to serve a penalty. Do you think there could be some sort of bias towards Ferrari from the FIA?
LH: Man you got some bollocks to ask me that! I do think that some have been a bit weird. That one you mentioned, and Heikki for blocking, even though he didn’t. Kimi took out Sutil in Monaco and got no penalty, yet I got one for my mistake.
He shouldn’t have been there you know. But that is in the past. I have to move on now and focus on winning the title.
MG: Nice answer mate. Do you think that this weekend could be very important by time we go to Brazil?
LH: Totally man, every result matters. Kimi taking out Sutil could come back to haunt him, Massa’s mistake in Australia could haunt him. Mine in Canada could haunt me. You just do not know what is going to happen. I have reached a point now where every result has to be a good one.
MG: How do you think Heikki is doing this year?
LH: I think he is doing very well man. This is definitely his biggest year in motorsport. He’s with one of the top teams in the sport, and has to prove himself. I think he has, especially with that lap today. He has come back from that crash in Spain and has blown all of us at McLaren away.
I think he is a future world champ, but he’ll have to get through me first!
MG: Ha-ha, I can imagine a great fight between the two of you. Okay that about wraps it up for me mate.
LH: I’ll give you another interview tomorrow yeah, that web site you report for deserves credit for producing journalists like you. You didn’t spew any crap man, and that’s well good.
MG: Okay mate, cheers. There are loads of us at Bleacher Report, and some better than me, but thanks for the compliment. Thank you Lewis Hamilton.
LH: Thanks to you and Bleacher Report, I’m going to check out that site man.
MG: Nice one mate. See you tomorrow.
LH: Definitely mate.
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3 months ago
Just amazing MG for your young journalism career, it is the highlight of your career! Kudos, congrats!
from 3 months ago
highlight by a clear margin. that pic is from my iPhone, so it's not too bad i guess.
lovely guy, and to offer me an interview tomorrow shows how good a pro he is.
from 3 months ago
The pic is damn good man! And trust Lewis is one to keep his promises. It would be interesting to see you interview Kimi for a change, will the iceman spew fire or be cold ice. And don't forget to ask him to recant on Lewis's quote, "he was not supposed to be there in Montreal" as also, "Sutil shunt will haunt Kimi" - will be interesting to know - also, about Double R - Racing and if he is going to the Willaims team for 2009 - I woner how he would fare in a Red Bull or Williams!
3 months ago
Good stuff, It would be an honour to interview any of the 20 drivers, I think I would be truly starstruck !
from 3 months ago
mate, as soon as he went, i was giddy like a little girl. i was wtf i just met lewis hamilton.
from 3 months ago
Ha ha ha ... Yeah I would be too !
3 months ago
Oh Mate This Is Gold Dust , You know That our Well On Your Way Now . Michael Griffin World Clss Journalist . Nice One Son .
Lewis If You Do Read This Article , Your The Best Since Senna , F**k Schumacher (joke) That Is No Disrespect To Any Of The Other Guys They Are All Talented Guys . Ayrton Will Be Proud Of The Way Your Shining Through And Racing Make Him And Everyone Here proud , W Are All Behind You . . And Ive Not Missed A Race Since OZ 2007 , And You Cost Me A Mobile Phone In Shanghai (Well Ok I Cost Myself A New Phone By Throwin It ) But To See Your Success Over 1 And A Half Years Is Worth it . Good Luck With The Title .
Peace
from 3 months ago
cheers mate. i'm currently applying for a job at the bbc, so this may help me. hopefully.
3 months ago
Bleacher Report has infiltrated the champagne and caviar crowd! Way to go Michael!
from 3 months ago
cheers mate, it is quite weird to be here though. hope i can comeback for the farewell next year.
3 months ago
Very nice and riveting piece there Michael! Full kudos to you, and the jealousy is at the boiling point :)
Just kidding, glad you're enjoying yourself and meeting some fine extreme athletes!
from 3 months ago
thanks man.never been so happy.
3 months ago
Great scoop.I'd have asked him if he had any naked pictures of that pussycat doll on his phone.Ha Ha.Only joking some great questions well done!
from 3 months ago
she was hanging around in the background, so he is one lucky man.
3 months ago
i thought lewis was with vivian burkhardt mike ?? or is he bein a cheeky chappy ha ha .
3 months ago
wow! your so lucky mate, hope you get the job with the bbc, with this interview you fully deserve it! i wouldnt be able to hold it together in front of such a massive star!
from 3 months ago
i hope i get that job, may be able to wing it to a gp. lol. believe me mate, as soon as i left the mclaren centre i was like oh my gawd!!! i just met lewis hamilton. funnily enough, when i met bernie, i just thought man i'd love to punch him.
3 months ago
Great interview, very well done.
I am so jealous, I would love to interview the big stars.
I reckon we should have a bleacher representative at each race, I am going to the Belgium GP, any chances of a pass Bernie?
3 months ago
nice michael. very nice. i think i would have just been a babbling wreck if i was sitting there interviewing lewis. lets hope he checks out the site. that would just be special !!!
good work man !
from 3 months ago
Yeah it would !
3 months ago
Congrats on such a great interview, this does Bleacher Report proud, from the F1 section to the NHL! Fantastic job!
3 months ago
Nice job Mike. Very well done.
from 3 months ago
cheers mate, just wish this could have made POTD. not for me but for bleacher.
3 months ago
Good stuff mate. If only we could get LH to write a "guest article" on B/R - next time. good things!
2 months ago
Hats off Micheal and Congrats on catching up with Lewis Hamilton..
2 months ago
great stuff . lewis hamilton is indirectly on bleacher report
2 months ago
Holy Jesus! This is my pick of the day even though its ages old. Just got around to reading it but wow, that question about the Mclaren penalties. Niiiiiice one. Cool!
2 months ago
I mean it is tomorrow, I gave it away today. Okay, you can have 5 of them lovely stars today and the POTD tomorrow. That do you?
from 2 months ago
lovely mate, this deserves more POTD's, for bleacher, not me. cheers mate.
2 months ago
Michael, just posting from a kiosk. Did you get the promised interview with Lewis post race? Or did he forget his promise after being on the winner's podium? Please post a note on this. Then I will decide whether to love Hami or take him out of my book. Of course, though I will make him a footnote for being a great driver!
from 2 months ago
ah yes, he ran out of time after so many interviews. he did say that he will be in the uk soon, and hopes to give me an interview then, but he can't make any promises.
he did say sorry profusely, and I understood really, he had so many interviews to get through that he ran out of time.
2 months ago
Well, I would give this POTD as promised, and as it deserves every day for a month of sundays, but I can't cos the tab for choosing it isn't here for some weird reason. Sorry man, well, You won't get recorded for having it but you ARE my POTD today....Sorry I couldn'y give you a real one. Top job though. And yeah, excellent idea for Roundtable, definately have an entry from me coming soon! Cheers!
from 2 months ago
oh good, the roundtable should be a massive success/ you can't POTD it because the article is a few days old, but this should have made it.
big moment for B/R.
2 months ago
Great Job on the interview. Lewis sounds like a cool guy to talk to.
from 2 months ago
Yeah he was, very welcoming and so relaxed. He mad me feel relaxed as well. Lovely bloke.
2 months ago
Mike, how the hell did you get this interview? I couldnt believe my eyes when I first saw it!!!
from 2 months ago
haha, I simply saw his Dad, asked nicely, and that was that. They were only too happy to help out.
2 months ago
OMG, what a coup for Bleacher's Report! nice one Michael!
from 2 months ago
Big moment for Bleacher. Thanks mate.
2 months ago
Eh michael How insane is that , Lewis Hamilton Feels The Need To Apologise For Not Being Able to Do a 2nd Interview , Just shows what a great guy he is ,
With how busy he is And i Know your Ecstatic With just the 1 interview , he still said sorry . I Think The Media Should look at Little things like that before Bringing out Stupid things Trying To destroy him .
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