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Lewis Hamilton Fought For Equal Treatment Before His First F1 Win: 'I Remember Arguing'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 2:17 PM ET

Lewis Hamilton has opened up about the behind-the-scenes battle that preceded his first-ever Formula 1 victory and how it came down to demanding equal treatment.

Speaking ahead of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, the seven-time World Champion reflected on his breakthrough 2007 win at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. While fans remember the race for Hamilton’s pole position and dominant drive, the Brit says there was a quiet struggle for fairness brewing inside the McLaren garage.

“That was actually the race where, back then with refuelling, the two cars were separated by a couple of laps of fuel,” Hamilton said. “One car would get lighter fuel… and because Fernando [Alonso] was the World Champion, he’d always get the lighter fuel.”

Hamilton revealed he was often sent out with heavier fuel loads during qualifying which added extra tenths to his lap time and tilted the competitive balance. The dynamic finally reached a boiling point after Monaco, where Hamilton voiced his frustration.

“I remember arguing after Monaco that I want equal opportunity and equal chance,” he said. “And they gave us equal fuel and then I qualified for the pole and won my first race.”

That first victory, at just his sixth Grand Prix start, marked the beginning of a record-breaking F1 career. But according to Hamilton, it was also a defining moment of personal growth.

“It was one of those moments where you had to listen to your intuition and really fight for what you feel is right,” he reflected. “And that was one of those high moments for me.”

#CanadianGP || Lewis Hamilton about his first Formula 1 win:

"My first win here was pretty epic."

"I was just talking to my engineers... We just watched the qualifying of 2007 or my lap, for example."

"That was actually the race where back then with refuelling the two cars… pic.twitter.com/BUl8WUaOUY
— sin ⁴⁴ (@44britcedes) June 12, 2025

Hamilton’s reflections add new perspective to one of the most iconic wins of his career. The 2007 Canadian Grand Prix not only proved he had the speed to match champions, it showed he had the voice and determination to stand up for himself inside one of the most powerful teams in the sport.

As he returns to Montreal nearly two decades later, the moment remains a symbol of both his talent and his tenacity.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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