Over the years, Lewis Hamilton has spent a lot of time in the United States, which explains why he feels very much at home when Formula 1 races on that side of the Atlantic. The Brit spoke about it when he was on the panel in today’s FIA press conference. “This is my favourite weekend of the whole season and COTA is by a long way my favourite circuit in the United States. The people and the atmosphere are unique and it makes me feel at home,” he said. “The same goes for the food and the music and, now that Formula 1 has grown in popularity so much here, we get a very warm reception every year when we arrive and this really makes the difference.”

Continue to improve. Hamilton was then asked about how he and the team plan to tackle the final six rounds of the season. “I think it’s important to stay focused and ensure we improve and learn all the time. Of course there are rumours flying around, but we just need to concentrate on what we have to do and I will be giving my all in the last six races. After Singapore, we had a meeting to analyse everything about the weekend. I think that even from that race there were a few positive insights to take away and if we can make good use of what we learned, we will get better results. Everyone at the track really wants a good result for the sake of all those working like crazy back in the factory. They really deserve it.”

Sacrifices and satisfaction. Hamilton and the other drivers in the conference were asked what influence their fathers had on their careers and the happiest memories they have of them. Lewis had this to say: “The earliest memory that comes to mind when I think of my dad is one of my absolute favourites: I remember how happy I was on Sundays, around the age of five — we’d sit on the sofa and watch the Grands Prix on TV. Then when I started karting, I can’t help but think of all the sacrifices he made to help me and support my dream of being a racing driver: the extra work to finance my career, the help in setting up the kart and the fact I knew he was always by my side. Luckily, after the sacrifices came the satisfaction, and I have a vivid memory of how proud I was to see him standing under the podium when I got my first Formula 1 race win in Canada in 2007. I remember it as though it was yesterday.”