Goodbye guy Hamilton backs his team to shine
SAOPAULO: Lewis Hamilton believes he and McLaren may have a decisive edge over their rivals after he dominated Friday’s opening free practice ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
The 27-year-old Briton, who topped the times in both the morning and afternoon sessions, ended up more than two-tenths of a second faster than defending champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull.
“The single-lap pace was really good. I struggled a little bit on the prime tyres, but on the options I was able to get a very good lap out and at the time it was eight-tenths faster than anyone else,” said Hamilton.
“Obviously everyone closed the gap towards the end. Sebastian had several tenths and I think he would have got close, but it didn’t look like he could match the times, so that’s a positive for us.
“But again, we’ll see what happens with the fuel loads on Saturday. Qualifying is a different case.
“The long runs are the hardest part on the tyres which Red Bull has generally been good at, but we seem quicker than them on the long runs, at least quicker than Mark Webber.”
Hamilton will start his 110th and final race for McLaren today before he leaves to join Mercedes next season.
Team-mate and fellow-Briton Jenson Button was only eighth quickest in the second McLaren as he experimented with a lower-downforce wing.
“It’s less downforce but it works in a different way. It’s the worst conditions to run a low-downforce car, because in such high temperatures you overheat and slide the tyres,” said Button.