Question: Lewis, the McLaren might not be as quick through turn eight as the Red Bulls. But the driver makes up for quite a bit in other sections of the track and you were pushing as hard as I have ever seen you push before.
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, absolutely as always. You always try to push the car that little bit further. After yesterday I wasn’t 100 per cent happy with the balance that I was able to find but today I was able to fine tune it. Understanding the tyres and everything we were able to put together a good lap. I was very, very happy with that lap. I couldn’t have asked anymore from it. The team have done a great job as always this weekend.
Question: How vital is it for you that you have managed to split the Red Bulls thinking ahead to the race?
Lewis Hamilton: It feels great. These guys have been untouchable pretty much all year in terms of just pure pace. I think it is a real boost for me and my team just knowing that we have a very good base line pace. Our race pace is even better. It puts us in an even stronger position for tomorrow and I know that we will continue to push We have got some new bits coming hopefully in the future, so hopefully we will be able to continue.
Question: Lewis, a fantastic second on the grid. It’s a circuit that you like but it bit you this morning didn’t it? At turn eight.
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, I mean these things happen when you are pushing the car. We went a little bit wide and it caught us out. It’s the first time it has happened in the four years or so I have been here, so it was a good experience. I won’t do it again.
Question: What is it going to be like the first few laps with full fuel tanks through turn eight and racing? It is not just you, it has been other people as well?
Lewis Hamilton: I think for us it will be okay. I think for these guys it will definitely be better. These guys are easy flat out through there in qualifying and it is incredible. They pull out almost four tenths just in that corner. But I think with full fuel we will be a little bit closer but it is a point where you can definitely degrade your tyres quite quickly if you don’t treat them well. But I think we have got a good balance where hopefully it will be okay through there.
Question: That straight line speed advantage is going to help you going into turn 12 under braking in the race itself?
Lewis Hamilton: Yeah, today fortunately we got the weather right, as predicted. We thought there was going to be a tail wind and it did happen to come round for qualifying and I think as Sebastian said it is very difficult to overtake with the new strategy, new regulations. It makes it very difficult to pass but this is a place where you can. Like I said it is very hard to follow these guys through turn eight and to then be able to follow them after that but it is not impossible and I will be making it as hard as I can for Mark.
Question: Would you say you’re confident?
Lewis Hamilton: I don’t really like the word confident. I think I’m happy with the balance of the car. I think we have a good opportunity tomorrow and it’s up to us to do a solid job, so that’s what we’re working for.
Question: Lewis, is it winnable from where you are tomorrow?
Lewis Hamilton: think Mark and Sebastian have shown some incredible pace over the last couple of races. As you say, whoever qualifies on pole here and gets into the first corner usually finishes up ahead, but it’s not impossible. Anything can happen. We’re in the best spot I’ve ever been in to start the race. If I can get close enough to Mark then without a doubt I will be taking the opportunity. But we have to wait and see. We’ve got to look after the tyres, we’ve got a long race ahead of us but like I said, it’s great just to be there. It’s my first time on the front row (this year), so I’m very, very happy with the position, even if it is the dirty side. You do what you can from there. The car isn’t perfect but you can continue to improve. Throughout the race I always find more and more time, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
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Formula 1: Mark Webber Claims Pole at Istanbul
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