Q: Lewis, great win last time out in China, current joint leader of the FIA Formula One World Championship – so far so good?
Lewis HAMILTON: So far, so good, yeah. Happy to be back in Bahrain; always amazing weather. Yeah, it's been an awesome season so far. We're working very hard collectively as a team to try and continue at that level.
Q: Just following up on some comments after the last race, obviously you are a two-time winner here in Bahrain but given the circuit layout here, and particularly the higher temperatures, which could possible play to Ferrari's strengths are your expecting an even tougher battle to keep them behind you this weekend?
LH: I definitely do. I think Ferrari have shown tremendous pace and I think obviously in the first race, particularly in race trim, they're very, very quick, particularly on the hotter circuit. So, being that it is a hotter race here I think the gap is going to be even closer, if not different that to perhaps it was before, but we shall see.
Q: Obviously, yesterday Fernando Alonso announced he's going to race at Indy next month, in the Indianapolis 500. As a motor sport fan yourself, as well as an old rival of Fernando's, what do you think of him skipping Monaco for Indy?
LH: I think, firstly, it's great that a driver is able to do that. I think us drivers should be able to do more than one series. Obviously there was a period of time in the past when there were drivers doing multiples series, so I think it's pretty cool that he's doing it. And I hope that Jenson comes back, I think it would be great for the sport to have Jenson back in.
Q: A question for Lewis. You said you love the weather. How have you been working to deal with the heat for Sunday's race?
LH: Just running in this heat. I was in Dubai from Tuesday onwards. I was in Dubai for a couple of days and got here this morning. A couple of good runs in this heat always help. It's hard work, but that's really all you can do.
Q: A question for all three drivers: with Fernando announcing that he is doing the Indy 500, would any of you like to do the Indy 500 or possibly another iconic race like Le Mans if you were offered?
LH: I wouldn't miss out any of the races in Formula One. I'd definitely continue to do all the races, but I'd like to do MotoGP. I'd like to ride a MotoGP. Is there another race? Probably a NASCAR race, like the Daytona 500 maybe.
Q: A question for Lewis. I know it's early days but how does it compare, fighting a four-time world champion at another team as opposed to fighting your own team-mate in the same car? Does it excite you more this year if you were to take it a relative stage as last year say?
LH: I've commented on that same question a couple of times in the last two races but yeah, it is more exciting racing another team, very much like I experience in 2007 and 2008. Also, growing up seeing races with McLaren and Ferrari, the great teams that were at the top competing with each other was always exciting. So to be in amongst the fight with the Silver Arrows and Ferrari, which is also a very historic, great team, I think it's more exciting than just silver at the front.
Q: A question for all three drivers. This is a back-to-back race. Can you explain a little bit not how heavy it is for you as drivers but for the team, logistically, physically, mentally?
LH: Yeah, I think for the drivers it's easier doing back-to-backs. Could be back, weekend on, weekend off. Just keeping weekend in, weekend in, I think would be easier for us because staying in the zone between races, it's just easier that way. When you have the gap you have to switch back into it, so it's a little bit trickier. But for the team it definitely is very, very tough. It's time away from the family; they're on their feet for long, long hours during the day. But in all honesty, a lot of the guys, particularly my guys, they love it. There's nowhere in the world they'd rather be. So whilst it is very tough for them, for sure, and they definitely feel it, it's great to see that enthusiasm, and that sheer drive to just keep doing something you love. So, I never, ever see them complain, ever.
Q: Lewis, when you are racing your team-mate, regardless of who it is, you both have very similar characteristics, similar strengths, weaknesses, you have data. When you are racing someone in a different car, the Ferrari for example, that car has different characteristics, you don't have data. Which is more difficult to do?
LH: Ah, I think it's more difficult for sure racing up against… I wouldn't say there's one more difficult than the other, they're just different. When you're racing up against another team there are strengths and weaknesses. You know last week when we were qualifying against the Ferrari they looked like they were going to get pole but we were finding a bit more time on the track, in the blind really, because at the time I was the quickest of the two guys in our garage, so I was having to base myself on myself, I couldn't base myself on Sebastian. Definitely having to push the boundaries on your own is more of a challenge, which I love. When you are comparing data and you are constantly pushing each other, it's OK, but it's not as much fun as competing against an unknown.
Q: I'm sorry to come back to the same subject. If you were going to race in the Indy 500, what would be the biggest challenge, considering the average speed you have, the cars are most of the time very close, you have a wall at your side? What would be the main lesson should be important to race there?
LH: It's a completely different category; it's a lot, lot different. I've never driven one of those tracks, but it would so much different for us to go and do that – how a car's set up, because it's asymmetric I think, I believe the set-ups are asymmetric. The banking, how much you lift, how you use the tyres. It takes us guys forever through these test days to learn how to operate these tyres in the right window, so I would imaging it's not an easy thing to do in one go, so it's definitely a tall order in a short space of time, but Jeez, you've got one of the best drivers in the world going there, For sure, he will be the best driver in the paddock, but he won't have the experience any of them have. So I think it will be a very exciting challenge for him, to see how strong he can fare against those who have all that experience.
Q: Lewis, you said you'd like to see JB back in the car for Monaco. Can you just elaborate on why you'd want to see him there?
LH: Because I like Jenson and I think he's still one of the best drivers and his calibre is still higher than any other driver that's going to be able to take that spot for sure.
Q: And experience is important in Monaco?
LH: Yeah, his calibre and his experience for sure.