08/01/2008
NEWS STORY
What are your aims for the 2008 Formula 1 season?
Lewis Hamilton: My aims are to have another fantastic year enjoying my life as a driver for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, to score as many points for the team and myself as possible, and try to go one better and win the Drivers' World Championship.
There will be two new circuits in Valencia and Singapore – both street circuits – are you looking forward to racing on these and visiting new cities?
LH: I am. I have never been to Singapore but I have heard it is a beautiful place so I am looking forward to going there, especially with it being a night race. Valencia is going to be interesting as well. I remember driving in Valencia at the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes launch last year and that was good fun, although very slippery, but of course the actual circuit we will be racing on is in a different location.
2008 will see the inclusion of a night race in Singapore for the first time – what are your thoughts on this?
LH: I think it will be wicked. In all my years of racing I have never competed in a night race, apart from indoor karting, so it will be something new for all the fans to watch and definitely exciting for the drivers.
Was there one main thing that surprised you during your first year in Formula 1?
LH: The response I got from the fans around the world. I was amazed at how excited and supportive they were and I hope still are.
What are your aims for the 2008 Formula 1 season?
Heikki Kovalainen: Of course joining a very ambitious team I have to be aiming for a competitive season and to be able to fight for a good position in the Championship. However the priority for me in the build up to the season is to get to know the team and understand how they work. The aim is to get to Melbourne and when the lights go off be as prepared as I can be, so that at the end of the race, whatever the result, we are able to say that there wasn't anything more that we could have done better. So my main aim is to prepare and then from there start to improve and score as many points as I can.
There will be two new circuits in Valencia and Singapore – both street circuits – are you looking forward to racing on these and visiting new cities?
HK: Yes absolutely. I have been in Valencia before obviously with Formula 1 testing, but the street circuit will be a welcome addition to the calendar. I am sure it will be exciting as they are always challenging. In Singapore it should be interesting especially with it being a night race. It will be something that we have never done before and both circuits should be good experiences.
2008 will see the inclusion of a night race in Singapore for the first time – what are your thoughts on this?
HK: It's a good thing to do as long as everything is safe and the lights are very good, Formula 1 is quite different to football and it will have a much bigger effect if a light fails. Obviously they have people working on that side of things, so as long as they can guarantee it all, it should be a very good thing for Formula 1. Also with the race being later we might be able to sleep a little longer.
Was there one main thing that surprised you during your first year in Formula 1?
HK: I think the only thing that surprised me a little bit was the level of the competition and just how high it is. If you are not working 100% all the time and if you don't put the maximum effort in with the team then somebody will get ahead of you and you start going backwards. I knew Formula 1 pretty well before last year as I was a test driver and knew the schedule of a Grand Prix weekend, but it is very competitive and you have to keep working non-stop throughout the year.