WOAKES HAS EYE ON HIGHER ORDER
LEWIS HAMILTON will try to win the world title from third position after being edged out of the front row as Sebastian Vettel claimed pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix.
Hamilton only needs to finish in the top five to claim a fourth world title today.
But the Mercedes ace was upstaged by his German title rival who pipped Dutchman Max Verstappen by 0.086sec to take pole in Mexico City.
Hamilton has 11 poles this season but was shocked by the Ferrari and said: “Those guys (Vettel and Verstappen) did a great job. I gave it everything in the last lap.
“I could’ve been a couple of tenths of a second quicker but it wouldn’t be enough to match these guys. We’re still in for the win – I hope to have a battle with at least one of them.”
Vettel trails Hamilton by 66 points with just three races remaining and he is hoping he can take his qualifying form into the race and added: “I’m really happy. It’s difficult and slippy and difficult to get everything in one lap.
“I had a moment in turn six, I nearly lost it there. But I knew if I could keep it clean in the last sector it would be enough.
“Yesterday wasn’t that good for us but we improved overnight. I’m really happy but the race pace should be good.”
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen said: “In Q3 it got a bit more CHRIS WOAKES is ready to take up the strain of Ben Stokes’ absence by proving his worth with bat and ball Down Under.
Woakes (above) is considered a genuine all-rounder when he pulls on his Warwickshire Bears sweater and, in fact, batted at number six when he made his England Test debut.
Since then he has found himself down at number nine with Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali all bringing their all-round talents to the difficult – I couldn’t get the tyres to work. Second is good but not the way it went. I really wanted that pole position.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: “It was pretty close between the three teams, closer than we expected.
“We knew it would be a difficult circuit for us. I’m actually quite satisfied. We’ve taken a step closer to Red Bull and Ferrari and that is very satisfying.” middle just ahead of him. With Stokes set to miss the entire Ashes series that lower order engine room will still need to produce the goods if England are to be successful and Woakes is confident they will.
“Losing Ben as an all-rounder means myself, Moeen and I suppose even Jonny have more of a chance to prove our worth,” said the 28-year-old.
“If I am to bat higher up the order, I will try to embrace that challenge. I look forward to the opportunity to get in and score some big runs.”