Podium Interviews - Conducted by Eddie Jordan

Lewis, did or dream or think this would be the result today?
Lewis Hamilton: Of course, I was dreaming it last night but you never really think it's going to happen. I just want to say a huge thanks to my team. What they've done this year is absolutely incredible and to be able to arrive here knowing that we have a car we can fight with, and just the feeling I had through the race, it's… I couldn't do it without them. Thank you guys.

We know you've won seven races this year but the talking point is how big a pressure was on you in that last pit stop? That's what we wanted to know.
LH: Ah, it wasn't that bad.

Well you sounded totally paranoid up there I have to tell you!
LH: No, I think at the time it was just not really knowing what the situation was. I knew I had a big gap but if a safety car comes out, what does that mean, but then when I came in and knew that I had to fight the guys on a long, long, run-down tyre, I knew that we would have chance to get by, so I felt kind of comfortable.

Well, we'll come back to you because we have lots more questions but ladies and gentlemen, Sebastian Vettel, four times world champion, his best result of the year! Sebastian, what is it with Singapore and you? You seem to be a night raider or something like that. Every time there's a night race you do remarkably well. Obviously on the podium again this year.
Sebastian Vettel: Yeah, kid did well! It's a circuit that I really enjoy, I really like. The atmosphere is great. You know, on the drivers' parade there are already so many people in for the race. It's great. It's a tough one, it's two hours and again we went to the full two hours. I had a good start, got past Daniel and then I think we had a decent race. We played a little bit with strategy and then the safety car came in the worst possible moment for us. So we tried to obviously stay out with the last set of tyres and make them work, which was very, very much borderline. I had a lot of pressure from Daniel and also from Fernando behind, but very happy obviously to make it P2.

A lot of red faces up here - the dehydration, the heat, the temperature. A huge race here is it? Is it very, very difficult?
SV: Yeah, it's quite hot. The cars are sliding a lot, so you have to focus quite hard. It's definitely a race we all enjoy as drivers because it's such a big challenge and to stand up here and get a cool glass or bottle of champagne is quite nice.

Well, your best race of the season, your best result and we know what you've done here before. Now, ladies and gentlemen, the pride of Australia, Daniel Ricciardo! Almost like a home race really?
Daniel Ricciardo: Yeah, feels like a home race. Singapore to Perth is pretty much as close as Melbourne to Perth, so for West Australia it's like another home race.

I need to ask you the question: do you think that when Fernando gave up the place to Sebastian, do you think he should have given up the place to you?
DR: To be honest, I'll have to have a look. Obviously he went off, that was clear. I knew he would give it back to Seb [but] whether he had to give it back to me, I'll have a look at that. I was just sort of focused on regrouping from the start really. To get on the podium I guess is not a bad result, good for the team and at least we've got some Aussie flags.

We see a lot of Aussie flag, you're the pride of Australia. Lewis, things have changed, really, haven't they, for you?
LH: Absolutely.

Big smile on your face.
LH: Yeah, I was so excited to have… I was looking for that clean weekend and this has been it. It's been fantastic. It's not perfect for the team because Nico didn't finish and we're always striving to get both cars finishing 1-2. I don't think anyone has finished one-two before and that was our goal. So there are things we can still work on. I also want to say a big thanks to all the fans. Incredible support today, so thank you guys.

Press Conference

Lewis, your second victory in Singapore, your seventh of the season and a very popular win, it would seem, with the crowd - but there was clearly a tense moment for you after the safety car when you knew you had to stop again and it was clear the four or five cars behind you didn't - but the strategy team stayed calm, you stayed calm and you're now leading the Drivers' Championship. Just tell us about the rollercoaster of emotions and the way you feel leaving Singapore tonight.
LH: Coming here and to the last six races with a great race in Monza, knowing that we had a car to compete here, obviously yesterday in qualifying it was very close between everyone so I didn't really know what to expect today - but got off cleanly. Of course it would have been a hardcore race if Nico was in the race with me as the car was feeling very good and we would have been very strong. But, yeah, later on in the race, I think for me I was a bit unaware of what I needed to do. That second-to-last stint, I extended it as long as I could and then they said "we need 27s." And that was still six seconds I needed more, and my tyres were dropping off, so I didn't really understand why. And I was also nervous that, if the Safety Car came out, would that cause me big problems? So anyway, fortunately we got to where I needed to go and we pitted. I came out, and I saw Sebastian going past but straight away I knew they would be on… they were obviously doing a two-stop, I would have good pace. So, took it easy the first lap. It was actually a bit of a tight gap, maybe I should have overtaken him somewhere else but fortunately Sebastian was very fair and I got by. After that it was quite straightforward. Amazing job from the team and the guys back at the factory. The car was really spectacular in the race.