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.

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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."