By Dan Knutson
NSSN Correspondent
MONTREAL — When it comes to talking with the media, Lewis Hamilton is remarkably mature, suave, friendly and relaxed, considering that he is only 22 years old and is in the spotlight for the first time in his life.
But he says he learned a valuable lesson in Monaco, where he said he was just the “number two driver” at McLaren. The media, especially in Britain, then compounded it all by saying that the team favored Fernando Alonso over Hamilton.
“I think it’s always a learning experience,” Hamilton said when he met up with British reporters in Montreal. “Maybe next time I might watch what I say, but I just said what I felt. I’m only human.
“Sometimes your feelings need to be expressed and (let) everybody know how you feel. It’s all right putting a big smile on your face, but maybe next time I might control it a little better.”
Hamilton said he was extremely privileged to be part of a team like Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
“I’d do anything for this team,” he said. “I’ve bonded with the guys so well at testing and over the years I’ve been here. I believe I’ve got a special relationship, just because they’ve seen me grow up. They want me to win just as much I want to win for them.”
There is still plenty of friction between McLaren and the F-1 media over restricted access to Hamilton, but the team did allow the media to talk to him and Alonso in an open press conference after qualifying.
McLaren boss Ron Dennis sometimes steps in and answers when he feels the questions are inappropriate. “He is learning quick and becoming very professional at dealing with the inevitable efforts of the media to get the sound bite,” Dennis said.