Lewis Hamilton remains defiant after qualifying mistake
But Briton is in bullish mood despite Rosberg’s German pole success. Philip Duncan reports
ADEFIANT Lewis Hamilton has promised to bounce back from his qualifying mistake by winning today’s German Grand Prix to remain in charge of the Formula One drivers’ World Championship.
Hamilton has won five of the last six grands prix to overturn a 43-point deficit on his title rival Nico Rosberg. The reigning champion, now ahead of Rosberg after overhauling the difference, will start the race from second on the grid after a crucial error in qualifying paved the way for his Mercedes team-mate to claim pole, although that proved no obstacle to Hamilton winning in Hungary last week.
“I’m not down as I have a race to win,” Hamilton said. “When any of you guys are pissed off with your performance you are not happy, so it is not an emotional game.
“I brought it to qualifying, I was quickest at the end, and I didn’t deliver, so that is something I have to handle. There is nothing I can do about the past, I am moving forward, and tomorrow I can make a difference, so I will.”
Despite being slower than his German rival in all three practice sessions in Hockenheim, Hamilton appeared likely to snatch pole away from his team-mate, only to make a small mistake at the hairpin on his final timed run.
Hamilton added: “My mechanics are [always] hoping to get pole. I have my engineers here who work until 2am every night, so it is a lot of weight when you don’t deliver in the way they have delivered. But it has been a good weekend with no problems. I had the pace today, but I just didn’t finish it off on the last lap.”
Rosberg will start ahead of Hamilton for a second consecutive weekend, but while the Briton beat his team-mate on the run down to turn one in Hungary last Sunday, a shorter start here means a repeat scenario is rather less likely. Indeed, should Hamilton want to win, it is probable that he will have to overtake Rosberg at a later stage in the race with the odds of a collision between the pair becoming ever greater.
Formula One is back in Germany, a home race for Mercedes, following a one-year break, but Hamilton will not change his approach even though another crash would provoke huge embarrassment for the sport’s all-conquering team. “We are paid to do a job,” Hamilton added. “I am going to drive just as I always have in my life. Me, Nico and the team have discussed and learnt from the things in the past so I don’t see tomorrow being an issue for either of us.”
Rosberg was forced to abandon his first timed run in the allimportant last phase of qualifying due to a minor electronic glitch. He returned to the track to steal pole in front of his home fans.
“It was one of the best-ever laps, especially considering the circumstances,” Rosberg said. “It was very satisfying.”
Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen locked out the second row for Red Bull, while Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel will start fifth and sixth for Ferrari.
Jenson Button, given the allclear to race after he was taken to hospital with an eye complaint on Friday night, will line up in 12th on the grid, while his McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso could manage only 14th. It is a display that is unlikely to have pleased the team’s chairman Ron Dennis.
British rookie Jolyon Palmer will start 15th.
Hamilton has already had battles with Rosberg on and off the track this season, after the teammates collided in Spain and Austria, with Rosberg being found at fault by stewards for the incidents.
Rosberg got the season off to a flying start, winning the opening four races and enjoying that 43-point advantage over his teammate after the Russian Grand Prix.
But Hamilton has found his form, finishing top of the podium in four of the last five races and overtaking the German by six points in the drivers’ championship. The race in Hockenheim will be the last before the summer split.