Certainty amid commotion for Hamilton: British GP pole
SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND » Through all of the turbulence in Lewis Hamilton’s life, a return to his home circuit provides soothing certainty.
For a fifth successive year, the three-time Formula One champion will start the British Grand Prix from pole on Sunday after a record-setting Silverstone lap qualified him ahead of Ferrari rivals Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel.
Standing on the pit straight after qualifying on Saturday, Hamilton savored the roars of his home fans, and the banners and Union Jack flags pinned to stands.
“I need to make sure I do it for these guys,” Hamilton said.
The crowd was repeatedly praised by Hamilton, from the moment he stepped out of his Mercedes after speeding around Silverstone in 1 minute, 26.6 seconds, through the paddock interviews, and the formal news conference.
It seemed Hamilton was pressing home just how much he is adored at Silverstone. Unlike in London on Wednesday.
When F1’s new owners staged a flagship showcase for the series in Trafalgar Square, Hamilton was the only driver to skip the event. Boos greeted mentions of Hamilton’s name.
Mercedes has been trying to quell the backlash ever since.
Perhaps Hamilton’s decision to skip London for a twoday jaunt to recuperate in Greece after finishing fourth in the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend appears to have been justified by his showing in Silverstone qualifying.
Team boss Toto Wolff was more forceful with his media critics: Questioning “how he should prepare himself is an insult.”
Wolff accused Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner of trying to create a “bit of mischief out of the situation” by highlighting to the London crowd that only 19 of 20 drivers were there.
“There were three boos out of 10,000 people,” Wolff said, with remarkable precision.
“Treating the local superstar in that way is absolutely against how I see things,” he added. “I don’t see there is a big backlash when the crowds are cheering (at Silverstone). I am hidden in the garage and can hear the crowd applauding and screaming.”
Pagenaud takes Toronto IndyCar pole
TORONTO » Simon Pagenaud took the pole Saturday for the IndyCar race Sunday at Exhibition Place.
Pagenaud had a track-record lap of 58.9124 seconds at an average speed of 109.138 mph on the 1.786-mile street course for his first pole of the season and 10th overall.
“It was a really good lap, one of the best I’ve ever put together,” Pagenaud said.