British GP qualifying: Hamilton made decision to abort final lap
Lewis Hamilton aborted his final run in qualifying for the British Grand Prix because he thought he would not improve given the track conditions
The Briton qualified a disappointing sixth for his home race while Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg secured pole position with a last-second run with slick tyres as the track was drying up.
The third sector of both Rosberg's and second-placed Sebastian Vettel's lap proved crucial, as it was the part of the track where the slicks made the difference.
Hamilton had been slow in sector one and decided it was not worth pushing, so he aborted his lap.
Mercedes admitted that proved to be a mistake because he could have gained a lot of time in the final sector.
"I made a mistake today and pulled out of the lap when I should have kept going," Hamilton conceded. "It was my decision, a bad call, and that decided my qualifying."
Rosberg grabbed pole after just making it in time to cross the finish line before the clock reached zero, the German asking his team on the radio to tell Hamilton to go quicker while they were running together.
"I knew I had chance of getting much quicker, and that is how it worked out," said Rosberg. "It worked out perfectly.
"Even across the line. I was right in Lewis' gearbox. I had to be there, otherwise it would have been red [lights at the start/finish line].
"I had to be fast as possible to do the last lap, as I crossed the line it went red instantly, so it was a very close call and it was a really good team effort.
"Everyone worked together. It's fantastic to have such a qualifying where it goes well."
Rosberg, leading the championship from his team-mate by 29 points, downplayed the psychological effect the qualifying result will have on the title battle.
"I have never talked about trying to get a psychological edge," he said.
"At the moment the momentum is on my side and I have to make the most of it, and it comes and goes.
"I have a period where it is coming my way, but today is just qualifying.
"There are no points for qualifying and with the car we have everything is still possible but it is a big advantage to start first."
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Jon Noble: An unfair perception or a genuine concern? Lifting the lid on Red Bull’s Tsunoda scepticism
Hamilton claims Dutch GP radio outbursts weren't "the best version of me"
What Ferrari actually meant to do when Hamilton felt like a "guinea pig" in Dutch GP
Why Hungarian GP pole position was an ‘overachievement" for Norris – and Ferrari still has a better car
Hamilton claims Dutch GP radio outbursts weren't "the best version of me"
WRC seeking Chinese manufacturer with plan of "six constructors by 2029"
McLaren appealing Monaco GP result "with a double intent"
The questions surrounding Plato Racing/CPRL after administration
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments