At last weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix, F1 experimented with a new way to handle social distancing. The top 3 drivers received their trophies via robotic pedestals, but Lewis Hamilton was not a particularly big fan. He dubbed the robots as “weird” and “over the top” and clearly did not like the gimmick.
A week earlier, Lewis Hamilton just missed out on a podium place at the Red Bull Ring. However, he managed to rectify that little hiccup with a dominant display at the Styrian Grand Prix. All that began with an astounding pole position lap and from there he was simply unstoppable.
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Admittedly, while the FIA approved of the trophy robot butlers, Lewis Hamilton did not see the point of having them. He noted that everybody in the paddock underwent regular tests, so trying out social distancing stunts was pointless.
Speaking to Autosport, he said “I thought it was weird. It definitely seemed weird. I’d have preferred them just to throw it to me or something. In all honesty, it’s a really, really weird time.”
What else did Lewis Hamilton say?
The 6-time world champion also confessed that the fans’ absence really hit him that day. As a driver, he claims that fans are an obscure entity while he is in the car and racing. However, on the main straight and after the race, he really felt their absence.
He continued, “You miss the fans. It just shows how the fans make a big difference. I really, really missed it for that moment. That’s usually something you share with those that follow you, and those that don’t follow you, and we don’t have that.
“The boxes arriving with the trophy, it just feels odd. Definitely a bit OTT in my view, since everyone here has been tested, and wears gloves and all that kind of stuff.”
Following his maiden win of 2020, Lewis Hamilton is training his focus on teammate and championship leader, Valtteri Bottas, as he looks forward to the race at the Hungaroring.
