There was a passive impression on F1 leader Lewis Hamilton’s face here on Saturday evening after his team-mate Nico Rosberg once again beat him to pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
It was the third race in a row that pole had gone to the German, who now leads Hamilton 11-7 in this regard this season; Hamilton, who needs to win or come second on Sunday to win his second world title, has won ten races to Rosberg’s five this season and leads the championship by 17 points..
Hamilton has been the better driver this season and truly deserves the title. But if Rosberg wins this race and the championship it would be difficult to see it as an outrage unless Hamilton loses on the double points rule.
Hamilton said: “I am not particularly disappointed with it. Of course you always want to be on pole. I had good pace throughout qualifying and especially over long runs. Q1 and Q2 were good, in Q3 I didn’t really put a comfortable lap together, it just wasn’t a great lap.
“Nico did a great job but we are still there for the first tomorrow. I am looking forwards, I will just drive the same as I always drive.”
A chirpier Rosberg said: “If Lewis feels the pressure and makes a mistake as a result, like today, and a bit like Brazil, that is the opportunity I am looking for.
“I pushed flat out all the time to keep the level extremely high, that is what I do, and I’ll try to go for the win and keep the pressure on.
“Of course qualifying was my strength this year, but that is not only half of it,” he said. “Sunday is what counts and that is where I have looked to improve recently, like Interlagos, where I made the step, and that is what I need to do tomorrow.”
Jenson Button was once again faster than his young McLaren team-mate Kevin Magnussen, who failed to make it into Q3. This could be Button’s last race in Formula One, and McLaren have been unfair on him – and on Magnussen – by not keeping him informed.
Button has hinted that he might walk out on McLaren after the race. Asked whether he would wait for the team’s decision he said, enigmatically: “That’s something I can’t comment on right now.”
He added: “I haven’t slept a lot to be fair. There has been a lot of thinking going on. It’s been a busy few weeks mentally, spending time speaking to people who know me best, really, running through everything in terms of career and future.
“My friends and family know me very well but the one person who knew me best was the old boy [his father, John, died in January].
“Whether I agreed with what he said, I would still take it in and that’s what has been the toughest part these last two months. I can’t just bounce stuff off him. I’ve spoken to Richard [Goddard, his manager] and I find wanting to call dad and relay the information because I know he would love to hear all the different ideas that I have. But I obviously can’t do that. It’s made it very tricky, very emotional.
“I’m not a religious person at all but I’m quite spiritual and he was as well and my missus is. I’ll leave it at that,” he said, looking emotional.
Button said he would not have held a party even if he knew that this would be his last race.
“No way, not interested. I’m not here for looking back and people telling me I’ve done a good job or not done a good job in front of loads of other people watching. It doesn’t interest me.” But he has still invited his mother and three sisters to the race.