Hamilton: W10 went from ‘heap’ to conqueror

Lewis Hamilton is delighted to have secured a sixth Drivers’ title and a sixth Constructors’ crown for Mercedes, having started 2019 with a “heap” of a car.

Much of the damage was done at the start of the season as Mercedes took eight straight wins, an achievement which surprised many after Ferrari ended winter testing with what seemed to be the fastest car.

And Hamilton is one of those who was surprised, saying that until the last day of testing, the W10 was a “heap”.

“When we started this season, our car was actually a real heap to drive,” he said at the FIA Prize Gala in Paris.

“It wasn’t that great looking at the testing. We couldn’t quite get it in the window, and it wasn’t until the last day that we got it to work. And then we went to the first race and we already had some great results.

“It’s been a good year. “It’s been the best year I would say in my whole career.”

Hamilton said it was influences from outside which made 2019 his best season, though the deaths of Niki Lauda and Anthoine Hubert made it a very emotional year.

“I would say probably more the influences from outside. I think that’s really what made the year the best,” he told Motorsport.com.

“I think the season on a whole was as strong as the last. Qualifying wasn’t as strong this year but still, you know, I was qualifying front row, top three quite often, and split the Ferraris when they all of a sudden had 30 bhp more than everyone.

“I think qualifying was still good, but it was a harder car to drive this year. So the races were just as strong as last year.

“The races are really where the championship was won but I think also the outside I’ve just been happier in collaboration with the team, in terms of teamwork.

“And things like the doors that have been opened in terms of fashion. That’s been well received and well accepted, and my fans have been amazing, supporting me with it.

“So being able to do those things and it not be talked about too much, because in the sense of negative, that’s a distraction.

“But then also there’s quite a few people that we’ve lost so it’s been quite an emotional rollercoaster. From race one, to Monaco, to Spa, which were big, big dents in the motorsport world. And I think for everyone, they were struggling.”

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