BRITISH and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is on his way to becoming the first driver to claim the Bahrain Grand Prix three times in a row should he win the race on Sunday.
“I never concentrated on the fact that I could hold a record this time, but I obviously feel very happy to know that I could achieve such a thing,” Hamilton responded as he was asked about his chances.
Hamilton will be looking to get back to winning ways as he has not won a race since the US Grand Prix in 2015.
“I haven’t won a race in a while, I hope I’d win this time in Bahrain, that’s the plan,” the 31-year-old driver said.
“Once you get on the right foot and you get that win, and then you get on the second one, and your season just picks up,” he added.
Conquered
Prior to last season’s race Hamilton had stated that he felt he had not yet conquered the race, however the driver feels more confident on the track this time out.
Hamilton claimed the 2014 Bahrain Grand Prix clocking 1:39:42.743, 1.085 seconds advantage over his teammate and probably toughest competitor Nico Rosberg.
Last year’s race saw Hamilton come on top again, but this time clocking in faster than his first win in 1:35:05.809, 3.380 seconds advantage over second placed Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari and a 6.033 seconds advantage over third placed Rosberg.
“2014 has probably been the best Formula One year in my career, and last year was definitely the best experience I had in Bahrain, viewing the landscape and all the beautiful things,” he said.
Hamilton landed in Bahrain last Thursday and has had a great time in the Kingdom.
“It’s the longest I’ve ever been in Bahrain and I’ve enjoyed it. I witnessed the weather changing from hot to cold to rainy,” he said.
Hamilton also pointed out the difficult turns of the Bahrain International Circuit, stating turn nine as the hardest on the track. “Every turn is hard in its own way, but the most difficult one here is probably turn nine. It’s because you’re breaking while turning,” he explained.
“Everyone locks out there, but generally it is very hard out there from turn four onwards because the wind has a big effect on the lap. Sometimes you have a head wind into turn one so you can brake really late, but then when you go down to turn ten or eleven, you’ve got a tail wind and you can’t brake late,” he concluded.