Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes star takes dig at Ferrari in Spanish Grand Prix accusation
LEWIS HAMILTON says Ferrari were “sandbagging” after claiming the 74th pole position of his career at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Hamilton, the championship leader, set the pace in Q3 and beat his team-mate Valtteri Bottas by less than a tenth of a second.
The Ferrari’s locked out the second row with Sebastian Vettel in third ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.
In practice, Vettel and Raikkonen had trailed the Mercedes but found their pace in qualifying.
And in a video posted on his social media accounts, Hamilton expressed his delight at taking pole and took a thinly veiled swipe at Ferrari.
EPA
Ferrari obviously had been sandbagging. They picked up their pace today
“So happy with today’s result,” he said.
“Thank you to everyone who has come out today to support.
“Loads of people in the grandstands. This is my 74th pole so it is a very special day.
“It has been a really tough weekend. Ferrari obviously had been sandbagging. They picked up their pace today.
“I qualified ahead of [Bottas] by half a tenth. It’s very very close.”
Reuters
According to the Met Office, there is a 50 per cent chance of precipitation at around 2pm and the race is due to begin ten minutes later.
But Hamilton, a renowned wet weather expert, says he will ready if the conditions change.
He added: “Tomorrow is going to be incredibly difficult. I think it is raining tonight so it is going to clean the track.
“It’s going to start fresh tomorrow, hopefully it is not a wet race.
“If it is, I’ll be ready. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got tomorrow and really hope we can get the job done.”