More than just dreams of pole position
Lewis Hamilton had raised the hopes of Ferrari fans in the first phase of Q3 in Madrid, making a move and setting the provisional best time. However, the Englishman’s dream was short-lived: in the second attempt Hamilton improved only minimally, making a few too many mistakes and being overtaken by Norris, Antonelli, and Verstappen.
“Me close to pole? I wasn’t particularly close, unfortunately – said the seven-time world champion to the microphones of Sky Sport F1 – yes, it’s true that at the end of the first attempt in Q3 I was in first place and I said to myself ‘Oh my God’. But then I don’t know what the others did: maybe they turned up the engine, I don’t know how they managed to improve so much. Surely there is something we don’t have and we can’t do much better”. A reference, that to the greater power of the power unit, which is significant considering that the Englishman is also using this weekend – unlike his teammate Leclerc – the ‘boosted’ power unit by ADUO 2.
Read more Antonelli: “I thought I had done a good lap, then Norris…”
“Having an extra fresh set of tires for the race? I don’t think it can be a big advantage” – Hamilton concluded, looking ahead to tomorrow – “because in the end things balance out”. In short, optimism does not seem to reign supreme in garage #44.
Read more Marquez: “Tomorrow I sign for second place, Bezzecchi made a tire mistake”
