Vettel: Hockenheim pole one of my best days, but Hamilton issue "a shame"
Vettel: Hockenheim pole one of my best days, but Hamilton issue "a shame"
Sebastian Vettel hailed his record-breaking pole position at the German Grand Prix as a career highlight, but lamented the technical issues that prevented Lewis Hamilton from challenging at Hockenhiem. Hamilton ground to a halt in Q1 with a hydraulic failure and is set to start Sunday's race 14th.
Vettel will go in search of a first win at his local Hockenheimring after clocking one minute 11.212 seconds to demolish the lap record set by Michael Schumacher with Ferrari in 2004.
No place like home ????
5?th pole of the season for Sebastian Vettel, and 5?5?th of his career ????#GermanGP ???????? #F1 pic.twitter.com/SNb0DzdECV — Formula 1 (@F1) July 21, 2018
The home favourite was two tenths of a second quicker than Valtteri Bottas on the final runs in Q3, who led the charge after Mercedes team-mate Hamilton went out of qualifying early.
Though ecstatic with a second pole position at Hockenheim, and 55th of his career, Vettel spared a thought for his title rival.
Asked where the lap ranks in his career, Vettel said: "The honest answer? I don't remember all the laps I have done in my career – I've done quite a lot. But, yeah today is definitely one of the best moments.
"I have a bit of a mixed relationship with this track. It seems sometimes we were really close in the past but for some reason it didn't come together.
"So far this weekend has been great. The car has been behaving well. We improved it for today.
"I think I have done decent laps, and bad laps – this is one of the better ones. I don't think a lot fans will say this is the best I have ever done. I hope the best I will ever do is still to come."
On Hamilton, he added: "Obviously we saw but I don't know what exactly happened. It doesn't really matter.
"We will see what happens tomorrow. Obviously you look after yourself. For me it was a good session and everything went smoothly.
"You always try to push the limits. Don't wish anything bad or technical issues to happen to anyone. It's a shame to see him go out, and I mean it.
"But you look after yourself. The most important part of the weekend is the race."
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- 1 hour ago
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- 2 hours ago
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- 3 hours ago
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- Yesterday 20:57
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- Yesterday 19:57
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860