Hamilton vs Vettel, the first match of the season: reactions from the top 3 qualifiers!
Lewis Hamilton ruled the roost in the first time trial of the season. He'll have to keep a close eye on Sebastian Vettel, who made it onto the front row. Find out the reactions of both drivers, as well as those of the third man on the grid, Valtteri Bottas.
A decade of pole positions for Hamilton
The threat was real but he still had something left to give! The Briton perfectly raised his game to fend off the Ferrari threat, embodied by Sebastian Vettel during the FP3. Only surpassed by his teammate in Q2, the Englishman secured the 62nd pole of his career by improving his time in the final lap of Q3.
Aware of the passing time, the triple world champion measured the impact of this new pole in light of his first race in March 2007, which saw him clinch the first of his 104 podiums. Let us note in passing that Lewis Hamilton has secured at least one pole position in each of his 10 seasons in Formula 1. The 11th season will thus complete this impressive streak: « So far, it’s a fantastic weekend! It’s quite crazy for me to come here for the 11th time. Yet I feel like my first race was just yesterday! »
But quickly, the former McLaren driver turned towards his next goal: securing the top step of the podium and fending off all his rivals, including Vettel’s Ferrari. Dominant throughout this Saturday, he remains cautious about his chances of success. The opponent is just a breath away!
The regulatory changes have been very significant, but the guys have worked so hard. I am immensely proud of my team. I am looking forward to the race as it will be very close between all of us this time, at least, I think so! Clearly, this race can materialize all the work of the winter. I need a good night’s sleep now to be in top form!
Vettel brings Ferrari back to the front row!
First sigh of relief in the Italian camp. After the promising winter and a more than convincing final practice session, the four-time world champion has reasons to be satisfied. He is ahead of Bottas’s Mercedes and takes the front row for the first time since September 2015, and his pole position in Singapore: « This position offers us a great opportunity. We have a good car and we are working hard. I have confidence in it after my winter tests. In the end, I’m not entirely satisfied with my Q3 because I lost a bit of time in the first corners. »
It was interesting to see the two rivals watching Lewis Hamilton’s on-board lap together before the start of the press conference, which sparked some irony from Mercedes:
The P1 & P2 men watch back Lewis’ #AusGP pole lap
Just don’t ask for any hints Seb 😂 #F1 #Quali pic.twitter.com/bfxi4Wkic2
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) March 25, 2017
Slightly disappointed, Sebastian Vettel can still find consolation. The long stint simulation seen in Melbourne is promising. In line with the Barcelona tests, the German will try to catch the Mercedes Star: « We are enthusiastic about the race! Confidence is there after the pre-season tests. It was a big winter for us: the last few months have been productive in order to get the best out of this car! »
#Seb5: ‘The team is getting stronger and the people are fired up’ #AusGP #Quali pic.twitter.com/d5MvlIuqz1
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) 25 mars 2017
Bottas slightly behind
Without being dishonorable, the Finn will occupy the second row for his first start in a Mercedes. Demanding with himself, the former Williams driver is still thinking about the three-tenths conceded to his teammate and even more about his defeat of the day to Vettel: « The third position? It’s not ideal. I’m not satisfied with this result. However, I am happy with the work done by the team. Even though I wasn’t present for all the preparation, I’m delighted to see that the efforts have paid off. Personally, I didn’t manage the perfect lap. But tomorrow is the day that counts. We must be strong at the start. We have to replicate the good work from the tests. »
It is worth noting that this position on the grid represents a considerable leap forward given his recent performances in Australia. Valtteri Bottas had never qualified better than 15th on the Albert Park circuit. He will attempt to secure the tenth podium of his career at the end of the 58 laps, the first of this 2017 Formula 1 season.
