Hamilton: “I learned the lessons of Monaco”

Lewis Hamilton said he reflected on his actions during and after the Monaco GP and said he was determined to put "a bad day" behind him.

The McLaren driver was penalized in Monte Carlo for the collisions with Felipe Massa and Pastor Maldonado and immediately after the race he complained to journalists about the actions of his colleagues and the stewards.

Hamilton later apologized to the president of the FIA, Jean Todt, and on Thursday in Montreal ahead of the Canadian GP he declared that he regretted the criticisms leveled at the commissioners.

“Last week, coming back from the GP I had some time to reflect on my behavior and my weekend, and I think it was just a bad day,” said Hamilton.

“I wrote a letter to the FIA ​​to apologize and I spoke to the drivers (Maldonado and Massa, ed.). I felt it was necessary and the right thing to do to put everything behind me. These are races... when you're competitive and this is the premier category... it's not easy to overtake, so every maneuver is dubious, sometimes you're right, sometimes you're not. It's inevitable, sometimes it will go well and sometimes it won't. The stewards are doing a fantastic job, and since I have been in F1 the situation has improved, now there is more consistency and it is much better. Although I would prefer not to go to the commissioners so often, I've been in the principal's office all my life, so I'm used to it and I'm trying to learn from the situations I put myself in."

Although Todt implied that Hamilton's letter helped him avoid a six-race ban, the Englishman said the potential sanction was not the reason for his letter to the FIA.

“I had time to reflect on the weekend and I wrote a letter of sincere apology to Jean and the FIA, and I received a fantastic letter,” he added.

“Afterwards I was able to put it all behind me and I'm really grateful to be here. I want to do my best for this sport and I want to contribute my best to make it fantastic."

Hamilton explained that he had clarified with Massa and Maldonado: “I know Felipe really well, I've known him since I was in F3 and maybe GP2, I have a good relationship with him, so I called him and he calmed down and was in able to understand the position."

“I've seen Pastor, I've known him for many years and he's doing a fantastic job. He was very fast in Monaco and I didn't want to throw anyone out."

Hamilton expects a competitive McLaren in Canada. Asked if he will have the best chance of beating Red Bull in Montreal he replied: “I'd like to say, but they've been fast on every circuit, so I imagine they'll be fast here too. But perhaps, as in the last race, the gap will be smaller than at tracks like Barcelona. The next races are certainly the best for McLaren. I've never gone into a weekend as the favourite, I don't like to be too optimistic, I'm not Muhammad Ali and I won't say this will be the best weekend ever. Coming up it's a tough weekend, I know I'll be racing against very fast talented riders. I feel like the car will be fast and I feel in great mental shape so I hope I can get a good result."