Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has shared that it was “nice” to have some time off before this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, with the Mercedes driver having spent some time in Malaysia before heading to Melbourne.
Hamilton also had time to go to the world-famous Byron Bay with friends before going to the Albert Park Circuit, where he enjoyed a bit of surfing.
The 38-year-old loves surfing but admitted that he was “terrified the whole time” after coming close to a shark.
“The gap was nice,” Hamilton said.
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“I went from Malaysia straight to here on Sunday. I was down in Byron Bay which was stunning, my new favourite place to go. I can’t wait to go again because I love surfing.
“So I went out surfing. Although, there was a shark so I was terrified the whole time. I enjoyed the weather, got some really great training and I’m really fresh-minded and arrived here rejuvenated.”
Hamilton will be hoping for a better performance from Mercedes in Australia this weekend, after enduring a difficult start to the 2023 F1 season.
With Mercedes having struggled at the opening two rounds it has led to suggestions that Hamilton might leave the Germans at the end of 2023, when his contract expires.
Hamilton has somewhat quashed any rumours that he might be leaving, though, after admitting that Mercedes are his “family”.
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For the time being he’s just remaining focused on extracting the maximum from the W14, in hope that they will finally have the pace to win once again.
“I’m just trying to make sure I’m staying consistent, make sure I’m training a lot in between races,” Hamilton added.
“Just trying to make sure I am the fittest I can be for when at some stage I do get the car that we’ve all been hoping for. If that happens, whether it’s two or ten or 20 races away, I just want to make sure I’m ready for that day.”