-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Formula 1
F1: Hamilton Surprised By McLaren Pace
McLaren Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton will lead the pack in Sunday's Grand Prix...
McLaren Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates in the parc ferme after the qualifying session at the Yas Marina circuit on November 3, 2012 in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix. (Photo: Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton says he was surprised to be so fast in Abu Dhabi, and has no explanation for McLaren’s pace.
Hamilton’s first run in Q3 was good enough to take pole, and he was able to abort his final effort and save a bit of tire life.
“No, I don’t know,” said Hamilton when asked about McLaren’s resurgence. “The car’s been feeling fantastic all weekend. We haven’t come with upgrade packages, we haven’t got any – we’re always modifying small, little wings but it does very, very little.
“But the car’s felt great from the get-go this weekend and done some fine tuning and every now and then you’re fortunate enough to make the right change and it feels even better, which it did. So, I didn’t really have to change too much going into qualifying. Actually I didn’t change anything going into qualifying from P3. That lap felt fantastic.
“The next lap I was up a little bit, I think I was up a tenth or so, and then I lost it. I had no idea I’d done a good lap, so it was just about going completely over the line and seeing if you can get something – but it didn’t work.”
Hamilton said he thought the Red Bulls would be faster.
“They were slower than I expected but we were faster than I expected as well. Mark did a great lap as well - what's the margin, it is three tenths? I knew that they were very, very quick but I would never have imagined being this far ahead of them.
“But I did do a really, really good lap, very happy with the lap. I thought that we would be a match or slightly slower than them this weekend and it's a blessing in disguise to be ahead of them.”
Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.
Hamilton’s first run in Q3 was good enough to take pole, and he was able to abort his final effort and save a bit of tire life.
“No, I don’t know,” said Hamilton when asked about McLaren’s resurgence. “The car’s been feeling fantastic all weekend. We haven’t come with upgrade packages, we haven’t got any – we’re always modifying small, little wings but it does very, very little.
“But the car’s felt great from the get-go this weekend and done some fine tuning and every now and then you’re fortunate enough to make the right change and it feels even better, which it did. So, I didn’t really have to change too much going into qualifying. Actually I didn’t change anything going into qualifying from P3. That lap felt fantastic.
“The next lap I was up a little bit, I think I was up a tenth or so, and then I lost it. I had no idea I’d done a good lap, so it was just about going completely over the line and seeing if you can get something – but it didn’t work.”
Hamilton said he thought the Red Bulls would be faster.
“They were slower than I expected but we were faster than I expected as well. Mark did a great lap as well - what's the margin, it is three tenths? I knew that they were very, very quick but I would never have imagined being this far ahead of them.
“But I did do a really, really good lap, very happy with the lap. I thought that we would be a match or slightly slower than them this weekend and it's a blessing in disguise to be ahead of them.”
Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.
Spanish Grand Prix
LATEST HEADLINES: FORMULA-ONE
-
F1: Alonso Tips Mercedes To Set Monaco Pace
Fernando Alonso's No. 1 priority in Monaco is beating his championship… -
F1: We Have To Outqualify Mercedes, Says Webber
Mark Webber is aiming to qualify up front in Monaco... -
F1: Sutil Aiming To Bounce Back From Problems
Adrian Sutil has endured more than his share of bad luck in recent… -
F1: Hamilton Hoping Mercedes Tire Issues Under Control
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is working hard to improve its car...… -
F1: Monaco Form Impossible To Judge, Says Vettel
Sebastian Vettel won the 2011 Monaco GP... -
F1: Raikkonen Still Coy On Future Plans
Kimi Raikkonen remains mum on where he's driving in 2014... -
F1: Valencia Wants Lower Fee For F1 Return
Valencia hopes to annually alternate a spot on the Formula One calendar… - More News
