What happened in 2007 after Hamilton’s qualifying comments?

Mercedes seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, has referred to 2007 after qualifying third for the 2023 edition of the Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton lines up behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the 2023 Australian Grand Prix after qualifying third on the grid, his teammate, George Russell, lines up just ahead in second place.

Speaking after qualifying, ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton said:

“I’ll be hoping for a day like the first year, 2007 – turn one here would be awesome.

“I don’t know if anyone here remembers but yeah that’ll be awesome if we could do that.”

While many fans may remember and understand what was meant by Hamilton’s comments after qualifying but as F1 is expanding greatly, and new fans are watching it every year – they may not understand.

So what happened in 2007?

Hamilton’s comment points to the opening corner on the first lap of the opening race in 2007.

In that season, Hamilton joined the elite grid of F1 driving for McLaren in his rookie year with Fernando Alonso as his teammate. For the young Briton’s first-ever race in the sport, Hamilton was lined up fourth on the grid – one place below where he is set to start this year’s edition of the grand prix.

Once the lights went out, Alonso and then-Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen blasted down towards turn one leaving Hamilton to combat the BMW Sauber of Robert Kubica. Knowing the inside line was not a viable option, Hamilton swapped over to the outside line in a bid to take a couple of positions – which he did.

In the process, Hamilton snatched third away from Alonso who was reeling from his double world championship win in 2005 and 2006 as Kubica settled for fifth. However, Hamilton still had to contend with Raikkonen and BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfield ahead of him.

Hamilton went on to secure his first-ever F1 podium in his first race with a third-place finish, behind the race winner – and eventual world champion – Raikkonen and Alonso.

Hamilton went on to secure nine more podiums in succession placing a strong stamp on his presence in the sport. At the end of the year, Hamilton finished the season in second place tied on points with Alonso.

Both Hamilton and Alonso were beaten by Raikkonen who took the 2007 championship by a single point.

That’s all for the article; What happened in 2007 after Hamilton’s qualifying comments?

What do you remember the most about the 2007 season? Let us know in the comments!

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Australian GP: Verstappen on pole as both Mercedes round out top three
• Australian GP: Verstappen top in final practice as Perez struggles
• Australian GP: Alonso on top of FP2 in damp conditions
• Australian GP: Verstappen leads down-under ahead of Hamilton and Perez
• Wolff sees ‘promising’ signs at Mercedes F1 factory
• Alonso reinstated back to P3 after Saudi Arabia review

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.