Lewis Hamilton claims 'F1 doesn't need Friday sessions'

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton claims 'F1 doesn't need Friday sessions'

Bottas ended a run of five Hamilton poles in 2020

Sam Hall

Saturday 10 October 2020 16:36 Updated: 16:55

Lewis Hamilton refused to use the lack of Friday running as an excuse for qualifying behind Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, believing Formula 1 no longer needs three-day events.

Hamilton will start second in the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring after qualifying 0.256secs short of Bottas's one minute 25.269s benchmark.

Complaining his car "didn't feel good at either end" during Q3, the championship leader felt the 180 minutes lost on Friday after both practice sessions were fogged off was not the cause of his struggles.

"I don't think we need to be on Fridays so it was fine for me," insisted Hamilton.

Given the cancellation of the two Friday practice sessions, numerous drivers and personalities from within the paddock described the weekend as a 'preview of Imola'.

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That particular weekend, the Emilia Romagna GP will be run across two days due to the logistics involved in travelling from Portugal with the previous weekend's race taking place at Portimão on the Algarve.

Hamilton is aware pole is not as crucial at the Nürburgring as at other circuits, with only three wins from pole in the previous 18 races at the circuit.

Suggesting the sketchy weather conditions could provide a few opportunities, he added: "I just think I'll try to understand what happened today and tomorrow is a long race.

"We'll see tomorrow with the weather. It's a lot cooler here, not the easiest place to overtake either, but there could be lots of opportunities tomorrow so we'll keep pushing hard."

The race represents a second opportunity for Hamilton to equal Michael Schumacher's record of 91 race wins.

Suggested to Hamilton there would be more meaning on this occasion as Schumacher won on five occasions at the Nürburgring, he replied: "Honestly it wouldn't make any difference.

"I've got my work cut out tomorrow, so plenty to think about. These two [Bottas and Verstappen] are making it hard for me, but I'm enjoying this battle I'm having with these guys."

Before you go...

"Perfect" Bottas lap sends a message to Hamilton - Rosberg