Monday, 12 May 2014
Spanish Grand Prix: Hamilton denies Rosberg pole again Written Updates
In the final seconds of a closely-fought qualifying session, the 2008 world champion clocked a majestic fastest lap in one minute and 25.232 seconds to outpace teammate Nico Rosberg by 0.168 seconds.
Rosberg had been fastest in the morning’s final free practice session and led the way through both Q1 and Q2 before Hamilton found the extra pace required.
It was his first pole in Spain and the 35th of his career. Only Vettel on 45 poles, Ayrton Senna on 65 and Michael Schumacher on 68 have claimed more.
“It’s been a tough day,” said Hamilton. “Rosberg has been driving really well through P3 and qualifying, so I didn’t know if I could get it. At the end, I had to eke out everything and more from the car.
“Much work has been done by my team to get the car ready and it inspires me.”
His friend and teammate Nico Rosberg did nothing to hide his feelings.
“Yes, for me, it’s very disappointing,” said Rosberg.
“I don’t particularly enjoy coming second to Hamilton. In the end, it was a good lap. He just did a better job, but it’s still all to play for tomorrow.”
On a track where eight of the last 10 races have been won from pole and 21 of the last 23 from the front row, Hamilton’s success made him favourite to extend his winning streak to four in a row and take over as championship leader from Rosberg.
It was the second Mercedes one-two of the season and a reversal of the positions for last year’s race.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo took third on the grid for Red Bull after his team-mate and defending four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel qualified only 10th after suffering a drive failure early in the final session.
Valtteri Bottas qualified fourth for a resurgent Williams team ahead of Romain Grosjean of Lotus and Kimi Raikkonen in the leading Ferrari.
Fernando Alonso was seventh in the second Ferrari, Jenson Button was eighth for McLaren and Felipe Massa ninth in the second Williams ahead of Vettel.
