I was ecstatic coming across the line - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton made an extraordinary Grand Prix debut last Sunday at Albert Park Circuit as he finished third during the Australian Grand Prix. We caught up with Lewis following his podium celebrations, here is what he said.

"I’m extremely happy, overwhelmed really, I hope my family back at home enjoyed it, I know they all stayed up to watch. To come across the line in third is a great start for me, a great start for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team and I’m looking forward to the next race.

It is great to have got my first race over and done with, it was extremely professional weekend, the team did a fantastic job and everyone back home and the team here, it has been phenomenal. To have both drivers on the podium is a great start. We can always improve however, we need to keep pushing and developing the car, to work on closing the gap to Ferrari."

"I really enjoyed it, I love having long races and to know you have the two time world champion right behind you is a great feeling."

"In the last stint I had some front graining with my left tyre, which meant I had a lot of understeer so I didn’t have the pace to catch Fernando. However I lost the place to him during the second round of pit stops mainly due to backmarkers. I was stuck behind them for a long time and he was able to close the gap."

(Lewis laughs) "I’m used to from previous series, so it’s alright."

"Yes of course, over the last 13 years, this is what I have been working towards. Formula 1 is the pinnacle of the sport, this is what I have been wanting to do and the team that I have wanted to be with. I’m extremely happy."

"I don’t think they have changed really. My aim coming into the race was to finish, hopefully in the points, but to finish on the podium is fantastic. It is a really good foundation to work from, so I’m really happy."

"I’ve noticed over the past few months that they have been extremely supportive, it is really great to see that and I hope they continue to follow my season with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes."

"He’s right! Well, that is my aim in the long term anyway."

"It was great; normally I’m sitting at home watching this on TV and the start is always the best part of the race. We both got a reasonably decent start and we went on the inside, but I had already lost a place to Robert Kubica and so I had to try and get it back. I know Robert from the past and he is extremely tough to over take so I had to make sure I did it there and then. I was able to get round the outside and then outbrake a couple of drivers."

"It is a great feeling to lead your first grand prix, but you have to be realistic and know that in the next couple of laps when you take your pitstop you will lose it."

"I was ecstatic coming across the line. Overwhelmed, pleased with what I have achieved. To see how the car has developed and how everyone has worked. It is an amazing feeling to know how hard we have worked to get this result, and it is nice to know that I did my job as well as I could."

"Ferrari are quick but I know the team, everyone is working extremely hard to help close that gap and we will be pushing. We have three days of testing in Malaysia. Anything can happen in the next few races. The car was good, but we still need to improve. We were the second fastest team, great position to start and build from."

"The result in Melbourne was a perfect foundation to start from, my aim was to finish in the points. From now I have to target a second and then a win, but this is a long term target, I still plan to take things step by step and build up"

"Straight after the race I will spend a day relaxing, then I will do some travelling in the far east. I will keep training throughout to ensure I acclimatise to the humid conditions we will race in. Then next week I have a three day test at Sepang."