Hamilton: teams' title "almost more exciting" than drivers
Lewis Hamilton says winning the Formula 1 constructors' championship with Mercedes is "almost more exciting" than individual success in the drivers' title race.
Mercedes wrapped up a seventh consecutive constructors' championship at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, breaking Ferrari's record of six titles in a row.
The team moved into an unassailable lead at the head of the standings with four races remaining thanks to a 1-2 finish for Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas at Imola.
Hamilton has been part of all seven title wins with Mercedes, and is on course to win his sixth championship with the team - and seventh overall - next weekend in Turkey.
Asked about the difference in feeling between winning the constructors' and drivers championships, Hamilton said it was "almost more exciting" winning as a team with Mercedes.
"It's a very strange sport in the sense that it is as team sport, but there are two championships and then there is an individual championship, but what is at the core our job is to deliver points and results for the team," Hamilton said.
"When you win a team championship, I think it's almost better than an individual because it's something you do collectively, with a large group of people.
"Whilst we are the ones standing on top of the podium, we are not above anybody. We are on the same level, we are all part of the chain links.
"You can tell that everyone is so happy when they get the constructors' title. When we do the Christmas party and we celebrate with everyone, everyone just knows that they did a remarkable job and that they have done something that nobody else has done before.
"That's cool to be a part of. Even if I was to stop today, that would be something that I would be able to share with that large group of people for the rest of my life."
Hamilton and Bottas have jointly helped deliver Mercedes the constructors' championship in each of their four seasons together as teammates.
Bottas said the achievement was "quite unreal" as Mercedes moved up to fourth in the all-time record list for constructors' titles, sitting just one championship shy of McLaren.
"I'm so proud of every single team member, what they're doing, all the factories and in the race team," Bottas said.
"We keep raising the bar for every single team member but we do it united. We support each other but the spirit the team has, it's making these things possible.
"I'm really, really proud to be part of it. I think for all of us in the team, it takes a bit of time to understand what we're doing and what we are achieving.
"But we should definitely enjoy it because it is amazing, and I'm really proud of everyone."
Related video
Previous article
Red Bull to help rebuild Albon's confidence before Turkey
Next article
The "schoolboy error" that could shape a future F1 star
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Lewis Hamilton |
| Teams | Mercedes |
| Author | Luke Smith |
Scuderia Ferrari Filming Day Backstage Footage
Back to Work | Valtteri Bottas' 2021 Seat Fit
F1 Explained | Mercedes Power Unit
How McLaren F1’s new investors have already made an impact
The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says GP Racing's Stuart Codling.
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
Why Gasly’s AlphaTauri haven is a blessing and a curse
Red Bull opted not to re-sign Pierre Gasly even before it decided to drop Alex Albon and so the Frenchman's Formula 1 journey will continue at AlphaTauri. This has positive and negative connotations for one of last season's star performers.
