Formula 1
Hamilton gloomy despite breaking Red Bull's grip on pole
Global Motorsport Media
Published: Oct 15, 2011, 9:59 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
A notably downbeat Lewis Hamilton on Saturday broke Red Bull's grip on pole position in 2011.
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes
Photo by: xpb.cc
"I'm sure this will cheer Lewis up," his boss Martin Whitmarsh told BBC1 television.
But the 2008 world champion was not celebrating his rare defeat of F1's new double title winner Sebastian Vettel, even causing the official press conference moderator to ask him: "Are you ok?"
A few minutes earlier, Hamilton had refused to respond to his engineer after being told of his pole, and in parc ferme climbed from his McLaren without a cheer, brushing a cameraman with his shoulder as he trudged past.
The 26-year-old is unquestionably struggling amid his dip of form in 2011, but his teammate Jenson Button noted after qualifying: "Lewis has been pretty great all weekend."
I'm sure this will cheer Lewis up
Martin Whitmarsh
Perhaps he suspects Red Bull are playing the long game, with Vettel securing a front row position whilst conserving "all our prime (soft) tyres" for a race expected to witness extreme degradation.
"I think we are in a good position. Tyre wear will be crucial," said the German, who told his engineer he is looking forward to the "better tyres" on Sunday.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Ferrari Korean GP Feature - The familiar Row 3 scenario at Yeongam
Next article Wild rumours swirl as Hamilton's mood dives
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
More from
Mercedes
Why Mercedes switched George Russell to its old F1 car spec in Singapore
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
20 h
Why Mercedes switched George Russell to its old F1 car spec in Singapore
Christian Horner admits that F1 rivalry with Toto Wolff became "theatre"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Christian Horner admits that F1 rivalry with Toto Wolff became "theatre"
Latest news
Christian Horner calls for F1 budget cap rethink: "Teams are spending $500 or $600m"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
11 min
Christian Horner calls for F1 budget cap rethink: "Teams are spending $500 or $600m"
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
2 h
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
3 h
WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe