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1 Formula Kart Stars With Lewis Hamilton
Lewis on dealing with not leading, and
winning a race "I always think I can win. Even when
I am last I always stay positive. I am sure when you finish second,
or last, or wherever you finish, you always want to do better. The
way you deal with it? It's like I say - with the worst races you
have it's about how you attack, it's how you get that guy in front,
it's how you improve. 'He's getting away from me' why is that? Do
I brake later, do I brake earlier, do I take a tighter line? That's
where you have to think quick and that's where you've got to improve.
It's where you grow. The next time out you'll be better.
So it's all about getting off the track, getting
your head down, sucking it in, and 'manning up'. My trainer says
'man up' so you've gotta keep your head up. There will be days when
you do terrible. There are days when I have done terrible. I've
kicked myself, but the important thing is that you come back stronger
and take the support and advice of the people around you that you
trust."
Anthony Hamilton and Carolynn Hoy
Anthony comes on stage. Anthony comments
on spotting Lewis' talent "Well I think it's difficult
to spot talent, I think what you actually spot is a desire within
the kid to know they want to achieve greater things. So what you
do as a parent is you just try your best and your hardest to provide
this." Advice on starting a new sport like karting
"That's a real long story. If anybody ever came to me and said
'my son, or my daughter wants to be a racing driver' my first words
would be 'don't do it', but if you're determined to do it, and your
child is determined to do it then you find a way. It's really just
about staying positive and focused.
I think the most important aspects, certainly
from my own experience in our lives is the family unit. The kids
believing in the parents, and the parents believing in the kids.
There is a real fine line between being a pushy parent and a supportive
parent. I like to think I've been supportive rather than being pushy,
although I do remember a few occasions when I was quite pushy. It's
got to be the desire of the young kid more than the parents"
Anthony on being supportive as a father
"Fathers are just one aspect of it. It's the fathers, it's
the mothers, it's the sisters, it's the brothers, it's the cousins,
it's the whole shebang. To be honest it's very tough for one individual
and their parent to go to a kart circuit, set up, do the karting,
do dinner etc... because all of that is part of being successful
on the circuit. You know the kid has to be fed right, has to go
to bed right, have clean clothes, everything has got to be done
right. It's not just about turning up with a kart and going racing
it's about how you arrive to the circuit, your presentation, it's
about your awareness of your surroundings and people around you.
Some drivers already have Hamilton's F1 WDC in their
sights
If you want to be the best you have to prepare
to be the best. And it's not just about winning, it's about
doing the best you can. So whether you end up last, or you end up
10th, it actually doesn't matter. What matters is that you realise
where you are, how you achieved your position, and you then understand
how to make things better."
'How do you deal with Lewis when things
haven't gone to plan?' Anthony is asked "(Jokingly)
I slap him around a bit (Crowd laughs). That's the one thing that
you can't do! My job, I suppose actually, I've learnt to be a better
parent because of karting. For example, in Brazil that was the worst
weekend of my life, I could hardly watch the race. I think I watched
three laps of it. The last few laps when it looked like we were
not going to make it my only worry was 'how am I going to support
Lewis when he gets out of the car? The championship, OK, we can
win one later'. But the key was - was it going to destroy Lewis?
And as a parent what can you do to help with the pain? There isn't
anything you can do, but what you can do is be a supportive parent.
And that's what I have done throughout the whole of Lewis's karting
career.
So if it's been a race around here, and the last
race the engine blew, or whatever it happens to be it's not about
being angry, it's about being positive because that individual needs
to know that you're there whether you win, lose, or whatever the
situation is. That's what makes you stronger."
Lewis Hamilton speaking to Sam Vanderpump
Lewis adds "For us kids as
well, it's right what dad was saying, you look up to your parents.
So the way you behave is the way we eventually grow to behave so
fortunately my dad was always well behaved. He didn't go around
throwing engines through people's windows (laughter in the audience),
he was very respectful, always very polite and that's where I learnt
my values"
Anthony continues "Actually
the key to that is, Lewis is quite right, around the corner there
is always somebody else watching you. I can remember two times in
our karting career where I think I over-stepped the mark in public
and both those times Ron Dennis at McLaren knew about them. You
would think that this would never get back to him, but then come
a week later and you get a letter, and someone somewhere is always
prepared and ready to slip the knife in. So the key for both parents
and individuals are to arrive at a kart racing circuit, represent
karting, and represent yourselves to the best of your ability. Because
if you want to be successful in this business it's about being the
best at everything. Not misbehaving on anything".
Lewis is asked whether going to Ron at
the Autosport Awards was his idea or his dads. Lewis points at his
dad, smiles and says "It's team work". Anthony
adds "When you see an opportunity you have to maximise
it. What made Lewis before then was being in karting and racing.
Lewis had won a championship or two at the time we met Ron. It was
just about professional karting and trying to achieve the best results
we can.
Anthony Hamilton was on hand to give out valuable advice
to drivers and parents
The kudos follows you, so the more successful you
are the more people write about you, and the more people get to
know. It's about people knowing you in this business. And they need
to see you can put the results in. Actually it doesn't matter if
you are the winner. You could be the most impressive driver in the
field. It's not all about being first, you can come in 10th but
it's still good enough. You've just got to have a persona around
you so that people believe in you"
Carolynn Hoy joins the stage to discuss
the meeting with Bernie Ecclestone which she attended with Anthony
Hamilton."I'd like to tell the drivers a little about
the coming season and beyond. I guess they would like to know what
happened in that room talking to Bernie because it was something
a bit special wasn't it". Anthony "Well,
this has happened in what... two days? I won't go into too much
detail but we managed to get a meeting with Bernie on Monday and
the initial idea was to get Bernie to put some funding behind the
championship initially to try and get the TV covered. I think we
are going to get there with the TV, but it's kind of moved on a
step with him now wanting to be involved with the championship.
Between Carolynn and I we convinced him that this
is the best championship in the UK. There is also an International
series as well which Bernie was quite interested in becoming involved
in. With Lewis, Bernie, myself and the sponsors that we know, we
are hoping that we can bring some good sponsorship and coverage
to the championship to make this the premier championship, not just
in the UK but throughout Europe.
Hopefully with Carolynn and everyone involved here,
the championship will become well known throughout the world. We
are also looking at other things, exchange students potentially.
So we want to make it an international thing. So if anything, me
and Lewis just wanted to give Carolynn our support because without
this series when we were in karting we probably wouldn't be where
we are now. Motor sport is a difficult thing.
The KF2 Formula Palmer Audi Scholarship
One thing I think is Carolynn puts her heart and
soul into this business, and she believes hugely in all the children
involved in the championship. I remember when we used to kart actually.
I always wondered how Formula 1 drivers never used to come back.
I couldn't quite figure it out. I now know why they can't come back
because when you get into Formula 1 you just don't get the time.
It's difficult to commit yourself back to where you started giving
your heart and soul, and giving it support. It's very easy to throw
a little bit of money at a series but what you actually need to
do is be there so that people actually understand and experience
what you've experienced. And that's what we want to try with Carolynn.
If it wasn't for Carolynn karting would be a worser place to be."
Carolynn adds "Thank you
very much indeed for all your help and I would like you all to realise
Anthony is being very modest here. He really did fly the flag for
us in that office and it was amazing. I would like to say thank
you very much indeed" (the audience applauds).
Anthony continues "It's
still early stages. We've still got some plans and ideas to put
together. The idea I would hope for over the next 12 months of development
is to put something together where individuals have a route to F1,
or access to people within Formula 1 because half the problem is
that you could be the best driver in the world, but you have no
money, and no-one to talk to. There can be a guy who has all the
money, and everybody to talk to and things are different. It's trying
to make life fairer, and more equal to everybody so everyone has
the same opportunity to meet people like Lewis, like Bernie, or
some of the team managers. And that's generally the idea. I am hoping
there will be more money for this particular championship, but not
just money, but potentially scholarships in a years time when more
funding is found to support the series."
Lewis ends. "I'd just like
to say thanks to everyone. To all the youngsters, the parents, the
mums and the dads. It really has been fantastic today to come back
to the old roots to see all the enthusiasm you have, all the dreams
you have and I hope you push them, and keep working hard. I hope
you work hard at school, it really makes a huge difference. I wouldn't
be number 1 if I didn't play my part. Also for you parents, keep
pushing, but not too hard like my dad said. And to Carolynn, she
does a fantastic job. I wouldn't be in Formula 1 if I hadn't come
through this series and I really hope you stick with it, and I am
going to keep working with you guys. You've got my full support.
When I can I will come back, it's just finding the time again, I'll
do the best job I can to represent you all this year and in the
championship."
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