Question: Lewis, you had a few tricky moments in Q2, particularly with Felipe Massa. Then in Q3 you came close but not quite close enough?
Lewis Hamilton: Today was a much better weekend, or start of a weekend for us. The team have done some great things improving certain parts of the car and it’s enabled us to be a lot more competitive this weekend. A good feeling again for us. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. We are quite chilled and we are quite happy. Great job also by Jenson (Button). A good step to hopefully score more points than the Ferraris tomorrow. I cannot really complain where I am.
Question: In a situation like today how much does having the pressure off help you?
Lewis Hamilton: Massively. In 2007 and 2008 being at the last races with an incredible amount of pressure on, but this weekend is a huge difference for me. I am just here enjoying myself and enjoying driving the car and looking forward to tomorrow.
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Formula 1: Sebastian Vettel Grabs Pole at Abu Dhabi
Formula 1: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Race Line-Up
Question: Lewis, you mentioned that you felt the car was going really well yesterday and that the rear wing was working particularly well and obviously this is the reward today.
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, the guys have done a great job to finally, not 100 per cent fix the rear wing, but get it working to a point where we can use it, so it has been a bit of a benefit this weekend. Generally we have got good end of straight speed and the rest of the car with some small improvements it is feeling really good, so very happy to be up there. This is the highest I have qualified for some time now, so it is a good feeling.
Question: What about at the start of that last run as there seemed to be so much traffic around. Same thing for Fernando as well. Did that completely ruin the last run?
Lewis Hamilton: No, not for me. I was in quite a good position. Sometimes you want to be one of the last people out but fortunately I was just ahead of both Ferraris and I think Nico (Rosberg). Rubens (Barrichello) was still on the lap, so the fortunate thing he was pulling away, not backing up into me and I was able to bridge a gap between myself and him and have a clear run. I had a really good lap. I was quite happy.
Question: Then earlier on you had a bit of a moment with Felipe going into that first chicane?
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, these things happen. Fortunately I was able to complete the lap after that, so it was good.
Question: Was there damage to the car from that?
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah.
Question: Just the front wing or more than that?
Lewis Hamilton: I think just the front wing. Fortunately those bollards are not too damaging.
Question: The circuit’s quite dirty offline, how difficult is that going make racing and overtaking tomorrow?
Lewis Hamilton: I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. It’s not that dirty offline to be honest. It’s a very smooth circuit. There is some rubber on our side but it’s nothing compared to places like Montreal. So I think going offline and braking on the inside at the end of the straight into turn eight shouldn’t be a problem for us.
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