Saturday: Hamilton puts McLaren on the right track
Highly anticipated after three promising races, the McLarens lived up to expectations with their speed on the Singapore circuit. Lewis Hamilton's fifth pole position of the season makes the Woking team the favorite for victory, while Jenson Button, though encountering more difficulties, still managed to secure the second row.
Lewis Hamilton – 2nd and Pole position:
« I am very happy with the pole position. It’s been a good weekend so far, but there are no points today, and it’s going to be a long and tough race, so I remain cautious. I hope that we’ve done the work we need to put ourselves in a good position for tomorrow; the key will be to stay out of trouble and take care of the tires.
Our guys at the factory have done an incredible job to ensure we have the upgrades on the track this weekend. In previous years, we’ve often lagged in development throughout the season, but this year, we are right where we need to be.
I have always believed that if we could start the season strong, we would be able to stay ahead. We have been very close all season, but now, I think we are starting to see the true strength of my team.
Jenson Button – 12th and 4th:
I found it a bit difficult today; I didn’t really feel comfortable with the car, the rear was slipping out a bit quickly and I struggled to take care of the tires over a lap. I hope the balance will be better in the race than in qualifying.
The high tire degradation here is going to make the race tricky, but I think we will be fine.
It’s going to be difficult for everyone tomorrow afternoon, but you can overtake here. Starting from fourth place means you can hope for the best – a win – but the pace wasn’t there for me in qualifying. I hope it will be better during the race.
