Mercedes made the next step to winning the constructors‘ championship on Saturday in qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix. World Champion Lewis Hamilton won the pole position very thinly and gave the „Silver Arrows“ a round anniversary.Hamilton’s 82nd pole position in his career and the tenth this season was the 100th for Mercedes in Formula One. The Finn Valtteri Bottas rounded off the strong performance of the „Silver Arrows“ in a qualifying practice. Between the two Mercedes, the Ferrari pushed by Sebastian Vettel.
His Finnish team-mate Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth ahead of the Red Bull cars of Max Verstappen (NED) and Daniel Ricciardo (AUS). However, the latter will not start from the third row, but from further back. After Ricciardo fouled before the first free practice a new turbo was used, the Australian got a resignation by five places aufgerummt.
World Champion Lewis Hamilton starts from pole position on Sunday at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Next to him is Sebastian Vettel.
Fine for Vettel
Vettel had to shiver briefly for his second starting position, as he had weighed the scales in the pit lane when weighing the car according to official figures. The case was forwarded to the race commissioners. „I do not want to talk about it. It’s clear what happened, „the Ferrari star argued questions on the subject. The German came, however, with a warning and a fine of 25,000 euros.
Hamilton also had to justify himself after the qualifying session in front of the race commissioners, because he had hindered the Russian Sergey Sirotkin dangerously in training. He came around for a punishment, however. In the battle for the still open designer title Ferrari has to do 13 points in Interlagos more than Mercedes. If this does not succeed, the Germans bring the fifth team success in series even before the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Rain chaos is missing
Qualifying threatened to become a weather lottery after dark clouds had swept over Sao Paulo. In Q1 and Q2 rain showers also caused some slip-ups of the drivers. At the end of the time training was but without interference on the stage. „That was a tough qualifying, Ferrari was quick, but our technician put up a great car. With the onset of rain, we did not know what to expect, „said Hamilton,“ my last lap was not great, to be honest. So I was so thankful that I had the pole. „
