I don't "lie" or 'sandbag' - Hamilton
I don't "lie" or 'sandbag' - Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is adamant he does not "lie" or 'sandbag' during practice after snatching another pole position from the grasp of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
Bottas has become known as 'Mr Friday' this season given his practice performances as he has finished top of FP1 for seven consecutive races.
Heading into qualifying for the Portuguese Grand Prix, Bottas was the driver to beat after clean sweeping practice for the second time this year, as was the case at another new circuit in Mugello.
But just as at Mugello, Bottas was beaten to pole by Hamilton, who secured the 97th of his career to tee him up for a 92nd win that will see him claim the all-time record for race victories should he take the chequered flag.
Questioned whether he holds anything back in practice before brushing Bottas aside in qualifying, Hamilton said: "I don’t lie, I don’t have anything to hide, I don’t hold anything back.
"I’ve never personally felt that that’s worked. I remember when I was younger and in lower categories some people tried doing that stuff.
"But I remember trying it when I was in Formula 3, or something like that, and it never ended well so that’s never been something that was part of my philosophy."
Explaining his approach over the course of a weekend, Hamilton added: "It’s like building a wall - you put one brick, the next, the next and you just continue to improve throughout.
'There’s a lot of work that goes in the background, trying to fine-tune, get the right perfect setting for the brake bias and the diff and how you attack each corner. It just doesn’t come easy, so I’ve been pushing all weekend.
"I generally think I’ve been driving really well all weekend. I’ve been really happy with my performances through practice but he [Bottas] has always been at the top.
"So I really had to just continue to dig and to believe that I could eventually get there. Coming across the line and getting the pole, it was a great feeling, naturally, because I really had to work my socks off for it."
Before you go...
Red Bull confirm it will look at Perez and Hülkenberg if Albon blows last chance
Petrov steps down as FIA steward after shooting death of his father
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Why Adrian Newey is the BEST and WORST thing to happen to F1
- Just now
F1 Miami Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today
- 37 minutes ago
Adrian Newey: The real F1 MVP and genius behind Red Bull domination
- 1 hour ago
- 1
EXCLUSIVE: F1 legend injured in 95G horror crash at Imola '94 praises FIA safety advances
- 1 hour ago
F1 News Today: Newey Red Bull exit timeline CONFIRMED as Verstappen in quit THREAT
- 2 hours ago
Red Bull CONFIRM Newey departure and when he’ll leave
- 3 hours ago
Related news
Hamilton beats Verstappen and host of legends to key title
Former F1 chief suggests Ferrari making WRONG decision in Hamilton-Sainz switch
Hamilton and Wolff centre stage as F1 shuts down New York for new emoji launch
F1 rival makes stunning Hamilton 'best' claim despite poor form
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