Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LEWIS TARGETS A SWEET FINISH IN SOUR PAULO
LEWIS HAMILTON promised to “have fun” at today’s Brazil GP despite suffering a 160mph crash in qualifying.
Hamilton will start at the back of the Interlagos grid in Sao Paulo after losing control of his Mercedes at turn six and thudding into the tyre barrier.
The 32-year-old Brit, who wrapped up his fourth world title two weeks ago, remained in his cockpit for some moments before informing his team that he was not injured in the highspeed smash.
Hamilton’s car sustained significant damage in the incident, and he will now start the penultimate race of the season from the back of the field.
It came after members of his support team were robbed at gunpoint on Friday night.
Hamilton (above, after the crash) said: “Of course, it’s unfortunate. Challenges are what makes life interesting and overcoming them makes life meaningful. I just need to take whatever bubble of negativity comes from that experience and move forwards and try to grow from it.
“It’s very unusual from me. It shows we are all human. I will try to have as much fun as possible tomorrow.
“Years ago I came from quite far behind and had a great race.”
It was the first time in 27 races Hamilton had failed to progress from the first phase of qualifying.
After his crash his teammate Valtteri Bottas made sure Mercedes still had a strong session by taking pole position. The Finnish driver delivered in the closing moments at the Interlagos circuit to beat Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to pole by just four hundredths of a second.
“It feels good. It was so close with Seb all through qualifying,” said Bottas.
“It’s a shame Lewis went out but I’m happy I could do a good job for the team.”
Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda said: “Mistakes can happen. Lewis is very upset. I have no problem with it.
“For Bottas, what a fantastic result. We’re positively surprised to beat Vettel. Bottas came back in massive top form.”
Kimi Raikkonen will line up in third ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman’s team-mate Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth, but he will be demoted 10 places after a series of engine penalties.
Ricciardo’s penalty promotes Force India’s Sergio Perez to fifth, with McLaren driver Fernando Alonso to line up in sixth.
Vettel, who finished second, said: “I’d love to be ahead. I chickened out a little bit with the brakes.
“The lap was fine, I knew I had a bit left. I was already too slow by that point. It was OK but not great.
“For tomorrow, let’s see what happens.”
Third-placed Raikkonen admitted: “It was a bit tricky with the tyres. My last run was better but still not good enough.
“Hopefully the weather will stay dry. We’ll do our best in a very tough race.”