Hamilton Addresses Awkward Cooldown Room Conversation With Norris

Friday, 26 July 2024 at 11:30

Lewis Hamilton revealed what he made of the awkward conversation he had with Lando Norris in a cooldown room following the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix.

After the end of the 13th round of the season at Hungaroring, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris met in the cooldown room (where drivers go before celebrations on the podium).

The McLaren driver just basically gave up a victory (although he later said that wasn't the case) as he let his teammate Oscar Piastri pass him due to team orders and was obviously very frustrated.

The seven-time World Champion tried to start a conversation by saying McLarens are so fast, but Norris quickly turned it around, as he said the 39-year-old had a fast car "seven years ago."

Hamilton questioned whether it was seven years ago, and then Norris replied: "Well, you had it, you made the most of it, and now it's us."

It was a bit awkward moment, so the Mercedes driver tried to calm the situation and ended it with: "I wasn't complaining; I'm just complimenting you about your car."

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Asked ahead of the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix about the exchange with Norris, Lewis Hamilton explained why it didn't bother him at all:

"It didn't bother me. I'm nearly 40 years old, so I remember being in my mid-20s, and I remember when I look back at things that I said that I would say differently, or if I would act differently."

"Like when you come out of the race, how your emotions are when you should have won, so I see that, and I'm like, 'It's an age thing.'"

The seven-time World Champion also explained where he thought it came from, as he noticed the McLaren driver was putting a lot of pressure on himself. He added;

"I don't take it personally, and ultimately, all us drivers, all us competitors put a lot of pressure on ourselves; that is how we do what we do."

"I don't think you can be particularly great without putting pressure on yourself; you've got to aim high, and if you fail, and you're like: 'That is the greatest thing ever,' and you are really relaxed about, you are never going to achieve what you potentially could."