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Hamilton: Australia pole lap was one of my best

Published on 24 Mar 2018 11:42
10
By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton says that the lap he put in to claim pole position for the Australian Grand Prix was one of his best. The Briton secured his 73rd career pole at Albert Park on Saturday, kicking off his 2018 campaign in style.

His lap was sixth-tenths clear of Kimi Raikkonen, who will share the front row for the start of Sunday's race. Hamilton admits that his pole lap was very tricky to pull together, but believes that it was one of the best of his career.

"It was tricky," the 33-year-old acknowledged. "That last lap for me was definitely the best of this weekend and I’m very, very happy with that lap. It was one my best. With the results we’ve had, you would think it’s the norm, but it’s just as intense. My heart is racing.

"I’m always driving for perfection and that was as close as I could get. I was focused on hooking up tyres and getting right temperature and then getting the lap together.”

Hamilton also said in the post-session press conference that he did not use any different engine mode: "I can assure you we don’t have a party mode,” he said. “I used the same mode from Q2 to end of Q3. There were no extra mode I engaged in.”

While Hamilton got the better of them in qualifying, Ferrari is hoping to disrupt Mercedes' party tomorrow and fight for the win. However, if that is the case, Hamilton says that he is not concerned about the challenge of keeping them behind.

"It’s not like I’ve not been there before, fighting two Ferraris in my career," he said. "It is always tough having two red cars or one red car in your mirrors. They are a great team, but we are the best prepared we can be. I’m excited."

Fergal Walsh

F1 News Lewis Hamilton Kimi Räikkönen Mercedes Ferrari

Replies (10)

F1_IS_Dead

Posts: 123
“I used the same mode from Q2 to end of Q3. There were no extra mode I engaged in.”

Lewis and Toto, what a team...
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- Mar 24 2018 - 12:04
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  A marriage made in F1 heaven.
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  Mar 24 2018 - 12:27
- f1fan0101
  
  Posts: 1,804
  Nice username
  + 0
  
  Mar 24 2018 - 13:58
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Quaint, isnt it? Im not sure if I feel comfortable being sandwiched between you two. One is a fan, and the other a doomsayer *runs away and hides*. :S
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  Mar 24 2018 - 16:13
- blade
  
  Posts: 341
  LH is on another level when it comes to qualifying, true the extra power is something else but you gotta drive it - he demands big bucks because he's the best, Mercedes could attract any other driver but stick with LH because he has the xtra factor - he's box office. Its true Im a big fan not least because Im a Brit - but in equal cars - doesn't anyone think he couldn't hold his own or better?
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  Mar 24 2018 - 22:07
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Rosberg did a good job against him though, didnt he? And nobody really rated Rosberg as a star driver. Does that mean that we underestimated Rosie, or overestimated Hammy, I wonder?
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  Mar 24 2018 - 23:47
boudy

Posts: 1,168
Off course not. Right. Up 0.4 seconds on first section alone. I don't believe that they haven't got an different mode to Williams.
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- Mar 24 2018 - 13:56
- Pauli
  
  Posts: 140
  Valtteri was trying to match Lewis in first sector and end up to wall. Lewis simple pushed very close to limits in the S1.
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  Mar 24 2018 - 14:47
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  Party mode confirmed by Wolff.
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  Mar 24 2018 - 20:10
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I get such weird images in my head from this party mode you speak of, Boudy! XD
  + 0
  
  Mar 24 2018 - 23:47