Lewis Hamilton reveals emotional reaction to Arsenal’s Premier League title win and why he’s proud of Mikel Arteta’s champions | F1 News

Arsenal fan Lewis Hamilton says he was moved to tears as the Gunners won the Premier League title and predicts they will now go “from strength to strength” after ending their 22-year title drought.

Hamilton, an Arsenal fan since childhood, was a 19-year-old F3 driver when they were last champions in 2004 – when Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles went through an unbeaten league season – and is three years away from making his F1 debut.

41-year-old Ferrari driver posted ‘COYG’ [Come on You Gunners] On social media, after winning the title of Arsenal, it was confirmed that Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

And speaking in Montreal ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, seven-year F1 world champion Hamilton said of Arsenal’s victory: “I think, like everybody else, [it was] very emotional.

“I was in tears, to be honest, because I remember when I was five years old and I was playing in Stevenage, in Peartree Way, in the football corners with my friends.

“I was the only black kid in this area among the people I played with and I remember trying to fit in and they all supported me in different ways. [teams] – West Ham, Tottenham and Manchester – so I was jumping between all these when I was four or five years old depending on who I was with.

“My sister, I remember well, I sent him a message the other day, he was taking me home and he asked me which team I supported.

“He gave me a dead arm then, bit my arm, said: ‘You have to support Arsenal!’ We laughed yesterday about it.”

After finishing second in the Premier League, Arsenal defended this year’s title with a game to spare after Man City’s draw with Bournemouth.

“We had a lot of close moments and when we finally got it it was ‘wow’,” added Hamilton.

“There were a lot of emotions for me, as I’m sure for a lot of people – they’re very happy and proud of the team.

“Obviously Arsene was great. I think the way they’ve gone in the last few years has been great because of what they’ve done.

“Actually, I’m proud of the team and I think they can go on from here and be strong.”

Arteta’s side will now aim to add the first Champions League trophy in the club’s history by taking home the trophy for the season when they play Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Budapest on May 30.

“I always look at other leaders who do good things and how they work with teams,” added Hamilton.

“I’m always learning how to be a better colleague, a better teammate to the people around me. How can I get more out of myself but also to the teams I start working with because teamwork really makes the dream come true – the real thing.”

Can Hamilton enjoy a strong Canadian weekend in the red Ferrari?

After celebrating Arsenal’s success earlier this week, Hamilton will be hoping for a strong result for Ferrari as Formula 1 returns to action this weekend in Montreal.

Since finally breaking his Scuderia field duck at the 26th attempt at the second round of the new season in China in March, Hamilton has only finished sixth in each of the two races.

“Hopefully it will be a better weekend,” said Hamilton, a seven-time winner in Montreal.

“A lot of lessons have been learned from the first races, especially from the last race.

“There’s been a lot of work, which I’m very grateful for. The whole team back at the plant is working hard to try to analyze where we’ve been working well, where we’ve been not working well, and improve the processes and the way we work.

“I hope we will be able to get more out of the car because I think we are still trying to get more out of the package we have.

“And then to see the reality of where we are at the moment compared to Mercedes, for example. But there’s a lot going on, so it’s about trying to get the most out of the car this weekend.”

Where Ferrari stand against their three biggest rivals, Hamilton added: “Mercedes are on top. McLaren looked incredibly strong in the last race, they made a good move, and obviously Red Bull made a big step, so I think we’re part of McLaren and Red Bull.

“Mercedes improved a lot this weekend. Even if they didn’t improve, they were very fast in the last race and still won the last race, so, we will focus on ourselves and try to win.

“For me, I’m really excited to hopefully have a better weekend.”

Canadian GP schedule for Sky Sports F1

Friday 22 May
1.55pm: F1 Academy Practice
3pm: F2 Practice
5pm: Canadian GP Practice One (session starts at 5.30pm)*
6.55pm: F2 Qualifying*
7.40pm: Team Managers Press Conference*
9pm: Canadian GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 9.30pm)*
10.55pm: F1 Academy Qualifying*

Saturday May 23
2.40pm: F1 Academy Race 1
4pm: Canadian GP Sprint build-up
5pm: CANADIAN GP SPRINT
6.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
7pm: F2 Sprint*
8.10pm: Competency building for Canadian doctors*
9pm: CANADIAN GP QUALIFYING*
11pm: F1 Academy Race 2*
11.45pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday May 24
3.40pm: F1 Academy Race 3
5pm: F2 Feature Race
7.30pm: Canadian GP build-up: Sunday’s Grand Prix*
9pm: THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX*
11am: Canadian GP Reaction: Checkered Flag*
12am: Ted’s Book*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 heads to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and another Sprint weekend. Watch live on Sky Sports F1 from this Friday. Stream Sky Sports NOW – no contract, cancel anytime