(Mercedes AMG F1 Team)
Mercedes AMG F1 Team's Lewis Hamilton has stated that he will not give up following a difficult qualifying session for the British Grand Prix which saw the 2008 champion qualify in 6th place while his team mate and championship leader Nico Rosberg will start the race from pole position. Speaking following qualifying, Hamilton said:
'I made a mistake today and pulled out of the lap when I should have kept going. It was a tough qualifying with the changing conditions and we got through most of it really well, until the most important part. It was my decision, a bad call, and that decided my qualifying.
I´m so sorry to have disappointed the fans here today as their support has been fantastic and I´ll do what I can to have a great race for them tomorrow. I need to have a start like I had in Austria two weeks ago and then do my best to get back to the front; you never know what might happen. It´s difficult when you´re just out of the car to express your emotions and see the positive but I´ll go back to the team and my family now and we´ll build up for tomorrow from there.'
Hamilton goes into tomorrow's race 29 point's behind Rosberg who is currently leading the championship.
Rosberg has had three pole position's so far this season and the German won the British Grand Prix last season and could be on for another win tomorrow. However, with the pace of the W05 Lewis Hamilton can expect to make his way through the field and could be on for a potential podium tomorrow depending on what the weather does.
Following today's qualifying session Nico Rosberg said:
'Wow, what a qualifying. It was so tricky out there this afternoon with the rain and the conditions changing so quickly. It´s very satisfying to get everything right in these conditions and be able to come out on top. Thanks to the team today for guiding me through the hour so well.
My last flying lap was difficult because we were very tight for time and I was stuck right up behind Lewis. Luckily he didn´t finish his lap but I remembered that we were losing three or four seconds in the last corners when it was very wet so there was an opportunity to make a real improvement and that I should keep going. It´s a great opportunity to start the race from pole and I´ll give it everything to take the win tomorrow.'
Mercedes Motorsport boss Toto Wolff said:
'It´s a case of mixed feelings this afternoon after qualifying. I´m delighted for Nico that he got pole right at the end: he had nothing to lose, because he was P2 after his first run, and got the job done in the final sector of the lap where he was able to make up over four seconds compared to his previous lap. On the other hand, I´m really disappointed for Lewis - he had done a great job to lead the times, then just thought it was too wet to improve and decided to abort. It´s easy to be smart in hindsight but these are split-second judgement calls and today was a bad day at the office for him. The way I know Lewis, though, he will take that disappointment and make it into extra motivation for the race. We seem to have strong pace in wet and dry conditions, so I am sure we will see our two cars fighting for the lead sooner rather than later tomorrow afternoon.'
The Brackley based team's Executive Director (Technical) Paddy Lowe said:
'It´s a case of mixed feelings this afternoon after qualifying. I´m delighted for Nico that he got pole right at the end: he had nothing to lose, because he was P2 after his first run, and got the job done in the final sector of the lap where he was able to make up over four seconds compared to his previous lap. On the other hand, I´m really disappointed for Lewis - he had done a great job to lead the times, then just thought it was too wet to improve and decided to abort. It´s easy to be smart in hindsight but these are split-second judgement calls and today was a bad day at the office for him. The way I know Lewis, though, he will take that disappointment and make it into extra motivation for the race. We seem to have strong pace in wet and dry conditions, so I am sure we will see our two cars fighting for the lead sooner rather than later tomorrow afternoon.'
© Ben Johnston 2014
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