Hamilton storms to 80th pole in Japan, Vettel 8th
Mercedes secure 2nd successive front row lockout
SUZUKA, Japan, Oct 6, (RTRS): Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton seized a record-extending 80th pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, timing his sole flying lap to perfection while Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel will start eighth.
The Mercedes driver, in dominant form all weekend at the Suzuka circuit, pumped in a one minute 27.760 second lap on the super-soft tyres while it was still only just spitting with rain.
Vettel and Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen, who went out on intermediate tyres in the final part of qualifying with the track still dry, lost time coming back in to fit the super-soft tyres.
The German then made another mistake on his first flying lap and was unable to get another one in as the intermittent drizzle turned into a fullblown shower that drenched the track.
Meanwhile, Hamilton – who along with team mate Valtteri Bottas had gone out straight away on the supersoft tyres to beat the rain – was lighting up the timing screens.
“The team have done an amazing job this weekend, and the call that we made for Q3 was probably the most difficult,” said the Briton, joined by Bottas on the front row after the Finn completed a second successive Mercedes front row lockout.
“It’s so difficult when the pressure is on to make the right call but that’s the big difference between us this year and that’s why we’re the best and the team deserve it,” added Hamilton.
Vettel trails his fellow four-times champion by 50 points in the standings with just four races left after Japan. His hopes are fading fast and he needs a huge stroke of luck now to reignite his challenge.
“Obviously it’s not the position we deserve to be in,” said the 31-year-old, who qualified ninth but moved up a place after Force India’s Esteban Ocon was handed a three place drop for a red flag infringement in final practice.
“Anything can happen tomorrow. Tomorrow is a new day.”
Vettel’s misfortune allowed 21-yearold Dutch driver Max Verstappen to qualify third for Red Bull.
“We have a bigger chance now to be on the podium,” said Verstappen, doubting that he would need to worry too much about the others’ title battle: “Is it still a battle? I’m not sure,” he said.
While the Dutchman celebrated, team mate Daniel Ricciardo was left hoarse with anger after a power unit problem sidelined him during the second phase of qualifying before he had set a time.