Q & A with Lewis Hamilton

For the pundits, the 22-year-old Briton is one of the best-prepared rookies thanks to his and his McLaren's team meticulous work, and that showed on track today, with Hamilton showing he is not affected by the hype surrounding him.

The McLaren driver put on a superb performance to finish just less three tenths of a second behind world champion teammate Fernando Alonso, and to secure a place on the second row of the grid for his maiden race.

Autosport.com heard from a very happy Hamilton after the Briton's exceptional day.

Q. How good was that session?

Lewis Hamilton: The session went very well for me going into my very first Formula One qualifying session. We didn't seem to have any problems. It was fairly similar to experiences I have had before, but obviously having three sessions is quite intense - especially the last session.

But the car felt quite good, actually very good, and I got some clean laps. I didn't make any mistakes, or have any offs, and managed to finish every lap and maximise every lap. I think probably the last lap I did could have been better, but there is always room for improvements.

Q. Jackie Stewart has said you are perhaps the best-prepared rookie driver. But was there anything in the last few days that you thought, 'Wow, I wasn't expecting that'?

LH: I think that I owe that to the team for preparing me. They put together a very good programme to prepare myself physically. And although I do my mental preparation myself, but they also helped learn as much as I can about the car and about the whole procedure of the weekend.

They have done a great job with that, we have worked extremely hard, the team have done a fantastic job and I haven't come into the weekend thinking: 'Wow, I wasn't expecting that.' Everything went to plan.

Q. You lost some time on your final qualifying lap. What happened?

LH: I think that I probably had a small moment on that lap. I was right on the edge. We were already up on the fastest lap I had done previously and I think it was going through Turn 12, I had a slight moment and that lost me a bit of time down the back straight. But it didn't impede me that much.

Q. Are you excited by your performance, or disappointed that you didn't get pole?

LH: It's my first Formula One qualifying session so how can I be disappointed I didn't get pole?

Q. No, but you are a very competitive person and don't you go out there thinking you might be on pole?

LH: You have to be realistic. It is my first qualifying session and this is the pinnacle of the sport with some of the best drivers in the world. It is not a sport you can come into and go straight to the front. We didn't expect to get pole. I was just happy to get the second row for my first qualifying session - it is overwhelming. It is more than I could ask for. I was extremely happy with what I got.

Q. Looking at the weekend so far, has anything surprised you - like the hype or anything else off track?

LH: I think out of the car is the biggest, not surprise, but just getting used to the attention when you leave the paddock, and when you are in the paddock. People are looking at you and it is something new, something that you have to get used to. It is a lot to take in, especially when things are going well, but I think I am dealing with it okay. And I hope it stays that way.

Q. Few people who have come into Formula One are so untouched by the pressure. Is that something you have surprised yourself with, or is it something that have prepared for?

LH: I don't think the pressure has got to me. I am able to control it and filter it in a way that it works maybe to my advantage. But it is intense and it is easy to lose it. I just have to stay relaxed. It is something to do with my personality and the fact that at the end of the day Fernando is probably expected to do a lot more than me, so I have got to focus on my job.

I have got a lot of respect for Fernando and I know my place and position in the team. But at the end of the day I am here to do a job, and not to focus on the outside pressure. The most pressure comes from myself. That has always been the case. And the pressure that accumulates from outside doesn't accumulate to more than what I put on myself.