Hamilton: Monza podium boos were ‘motivation’

Lewis Ham♒ilton has shrugged off the boos during the Italian Grand Prix podium bꦡut feels it is an acceptable part of the sport which he aims to use a motivation in the Formula 1 world title fight.

With Hamilton securing victory for the fifth time at Monza, beating Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen following a first-l🌳ap collision with Sebastian Vettel, the Mercedes driver has extended his F1 world championship lead to 30 points.

Hamilton: Monza podium boos were ‘motivation’

Lewis Hamilton h✃as shrugged off the boos during the Italian Grand Prix podium but feels it is an acceptable part of the sport which he aim🍸s to use a motivation in the Formula 1 world title fight.

With Hamilton securing victory for the fifth time at Monza, b🌃eating Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen following a first-lap collision with Sebastian Vettel, the Mercedes driver has extended his F1 world championship lead to 30 points.

While the reigning F1 world champion has been the target of Ferrari’s Tifosi in recent seasons the ওbooing from the Monza crowd returned during the podium ceremony but Hamilto🐓n opted to play down its impact and says he used it as motivation.

“It is easy in the arena that we’rℱe in, it is very, very easy to allow it to get to you,” Hamilton said. “To allow it to have an impact on your life and have you think about it.

“But it is also quite easy to harness it and use it and that gave me so much motivatio🌼n today. I꧒ welcome it. If they want to continue to do it, that just empowers me.

“I think it’s acceptable. It’s done in every sport. If I’m really honest, I ꦇdon’t understand it because I’ve never [booed] I’ve been to football𝕴 games, I’ve been to NFL games, I’ve been to basketball games and rugby games.

“I’ve never booed an opposing team even if it was against my team. And none of my friends do either so I don’t get the psyche of it. It happens in all sports. It definitꦆely happens in football and probably here more than I’ve noticed in others but it is the way it is.”

Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottaꦗs, who also copped a share of t🐬he boos at Monza, has backed up the British driver’s explanation and accepts at Ferrari’s home race Mercedes were always the prime target for Ferrari fans.

“I think every fan has their own ♚right to tell their opinion for different drivers, different teams🦩,” Bottas said. “Everyone can say whatever they like, they can support whoever they like.

“Of course, when you get the boos, it’s not as nice as someone shouting your name but as Lewis mentioned, for sports people who have the right mindset, we can t♔urn some negative experiences into strengths, so in the end, if you handle it right, you can really use that as a source of energy.”

The sole Ferrari driver on the rostrum naturally received the biggest plaudits from the Monza crowd but Raikko🍬nen feels the bo💟os should not be part of Formula 1 and defended his Mercedes rivals.

“I think everybody has the right to do what they feel like but I don’t think it’s very nice,” Raikk♉onen sai💝d. “I don’t think it should happen but obviously it’s not my decision. It happens and that’s how life is but it’s not very nice.”

Earlier this year Sebastian Vettel received jeers when he crashed out of the German Grand Prix in front of a large section of Max Ve𒅌rstappen fans at Hockenheim, while booing was also reported during the British Grand Prix podium ceremony when Vettel claimed victory ahead of Hamilton.

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