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F1 Brazilian GP: Hamilton plays down small gap – ‘I had it covered…’

Lewis Hamilton says pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix came comfortably for him as he notched up the pressure once more on Nico Rosberg ahead of a crucial penultimate round of the season.

The defending champion must beat Rosberg at Interlagos to keep his 2016 F1 title dreams alive to the final round in Abu Dhabi, while a Rosberg win will see the German crowned champion regardless of where Hamilton finishes.

On a weekend that has thus far seen the pair evenly matched on the timesheets, they would once more go head-to-head for pole with little to choose between them.

However, it was Hamilton that would prevail for his 11th pole of the season by a tenth of a second, a scant advantage that the Briton insists was more comfortable than it looked.

"Honestly, I felt quite comfortable in qualifying I just had to be careful because Nico was going quicker and quicker but I had it covered throughout. It is remarkable to think what this team and what we have done to have that many pole positions.

"It is a true showing of incredible teamwork and this is the best I could have hoped for coming into Brazil, my second pole here and it is always a track I've struggled at so I am really, really happy to be on top."

With rain forecast for the race, Hamilton is hoping the weather could throw a curve ball in his title fight with Rosberg.

"I hope that whatever the weather brings that we are work hard as a team and I will give it everything I have got."

Zdroj: crash.net