Why Hamilton finds winning F1 teams’ title “almost more exciting” than drivers’

Lewis Hamilton says that winning the Formula 1 constructors’ championship title with Mercedes is “almost more exciting” than claiming the drivers’ crown.

Hamilton led home a Mercedes 1-2 at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last weekend to ensure a record-breaking seventh consecutive constructors’ championship title.

Mercedes has now eclipsed Ferrari’s previous benchmark of six teams’ titles in a row, while it will also set the unprecedented feat of securing seven straight world championship doubles, with Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas the only two drivers left in title contention.

With a 85-point advantage over Bottas, Hamilton will have his first opportunity to take the 2020 crown - and equal Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of seven drivers’ titles - at the next race in Turkey.

Asked how different the feeling of sealing the constructors’ title is compared to winning the drivers’ title, Hamilton replied: “it’s almost more exciting winning the team one.”

“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,” he explained.

“So 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.”

Bottas has also played an instrumental role in helping Mercedes secure four of its seven world titles since joining the team to partner Hamilton back in 2017.

“It’s crazy to think that I’ve now been part of the team four years in a row to be part of winning the constructors’ championship,” the Finn said.

“It’s quite unreal - I’m so proud of every single team member, what they’re doing. All the factories and in the race team.

“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. And 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.”