TYRED & TESTED
Lewis: It’ll be all about the rubber in multi-stop dogfight with Bottas
LEWIS HAMILTON admitted he “was not that great” after suffering a surprise setback in his bid for an 88th grand prix triumph.
The six- times world champion had taken pole position in the three previous races of the 2020 season, going on to win on each occasion.
But if he wants to get closer to Michael Schumacher’s all- time record of 91 victories at Silverstone today, he will have to get past team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who pipped him by six hundredths of a second.
“I was not that great,” shrugged Hamilton. “It was not a perfect last lap.
“But Valtteri did a fantastic job and was just a bit too good for me. Ultimately he did a better job. But I am happy for the team to see another one-two.”
As Mercedes continue to push home their complete dominance of Formula One, this was the 67th time the team have locked out the front row of a grand prix.
With Silverstone a difficult overtaking track, Hamilton faces a proper fight if he is to extend a drivers’ championship lead that already stands at 30 points.
“We’ve still got a long race tomorrow,” said a subdued Hamilton, while sitting next to Bottas. “And I will be giving everything I can to try and beat this guy.”
And assuming their tyres do not disintegrate this time, the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix is certain to be a two-car shootout, with the Mercedes almost a second ahead of their closest rivals.
Bottas said: “We made good steps on the set-up from last weekend – that’s why the qualifying performance was better. It is an amazing car to drive, it is so quick.
“When you are starting from pole, you can only aim to win. The pace is there. First job is to get off the line and the mentality is to try and win it. That’s it.”
After the incredible late drama in last Sunday’s race – when both Mercedes stars suffered late punctures – tyre strategy will be more crucial than ever, and with extra pitstops expected, there should be added opportunities for place-swapping.
Hamilton said: “I don’t think many teams will be doing a one-stop race.”
His fellow Brits had decent days in the sweltering heat, George Russell a good 15th in his Williams, and Lando Norris 10th on the grid, again out-qualifying McLaren team-mate Carlos Sainz.
The woes of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel continued, after he failed to make the cut for the final qualifying phase in his Ferrari. He will start 12th.
The surprise star of qualifying was German driver Nico Hulkenberg, sitting in for Racing Point’s Covid-19-struck Sergio Perez, as he did last week at the British GP, though his car refused to start for that race.
The Hulk, 32, who lost his Renault seat ahead of this season, shone as a supersub for hire here – putting Racing Point’s Lance Stroll in the shade – and will start third as he chases his first ever Formula One podium finish after 10 years of trying.