Hamilton says tyre choice not a gamble

The Briton secured the top spot after beating Red Bull drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel who, unlike Hamilton, chose the harder tyre compound to start the race with.

Hamilton will have to start with the softer tyre, which has struggled to last during practice sessions this weekend.

Despite that, Hamilton said his strategy was not a gamble.

"I don't think so. I don't feel so," he said when asked if his tyre choice was a gamble. "Every race you are taking gambles I don't think we have gone into it feeling we should gamble this.

"Both tyres were very, very close. I chose to go with the Option tyres, we know the Option tyre doesn't last as long as the Prime, but the variation should not be as bad as tomorrow when there was a dirty circuit.

"Of course if a safety car comes around it could help, but we will see how long they last and do the best job we can. You never know what strategies are tomorrow and it will be interesting to see everyone's strategies."

Hamilton also claimed his team knew Red Bull would choose the Prime tyres.

"We knew that was their plan, so it was clear from Q1 they had done something different," he added. "It was quite clear to us. We just continued with the choice we had of tyres for tomorrow.

"It is definitely interesting to see thew two different strategies, interesting to see how they pan out tomorrow with all the safety cars. I feel we are in the best position we can possibly be."

And he said he was not concerned about having to stop earlier than the Red Bulls.

"I am not worried right now, I am enjoying the fact that we got pole position," he said. "We will look at it and analyse the different situations we can find ourselves in tomorrow. The best way is not to panic and do the best job we can."