F1 News
Date: 18/March/2012
Lewis Hamilton edged out McLaren team-mate Jenson Button by 0.152sec during qualifying for the first round of the 2012 F1 season at Melbourne’s Albert Park in Australia.
It was Hamilton’s 20th pole and the best way possible to put last year’s on and off-track troubles behind him.
“It’s an incredible feeling to be back here and to get off to such a good start,” said the former world champion. “I think this is mine and Jenson’s first one-two – I believe at least – in qualifying, so it’s fantastic to start the season this way. I’m massively proud of the team, working incredibly hard as every year they do, but just to see that it’s never-give-up and this is the result of that.
“I can’t believe that I’ve had so many pole positions,” he added. “For me, every one has been special and particularly this one. To come straight into the season and start off so well through qualifying – we’ve still got a day ahead of us – but it’s a fantastic feeling and of course, with the tough couple of years past, it’s definitely good a way to start off on the right foot.”
Fellow Englishman Button said the secret of the McLaren performance had been a much stronger pre-season.
“I’m going to echo what Lewis said: the team have done a fantastic job this winter. We knew that we had to have a good winter. It was something we were lacking the previous two years and we definitely did have that.
“Very happy to be on the front row and hopefully we can race well from here tomorrow. I was actually a bit surprised by the gap back to the Red Bulls and some of the other teams but, yeah, we’ll definitely take that.”
Button wasn’t the only one to be surprised. The majority of the paddock expected the Red Bulls to unleash their usual qualifying blitz, instead local star Mark Webber and reigning double champion Sebastian Vettel were left just fifth and sixth.
Vettel’s lap time was 0.7sec slower than Hamilton, leaving Lotus-Renault ‘rookie’ Romain Grosjean as the best of the non-McLaren drivers in third.
“I think we’re all probably surprised [by the Red Bulls],” said Hamilton. “I always thought that the Lotus was going to be quick this weekend and of course I’m surprised that we are so fast.”
Button added: “I don’t know what Red Bull have been up to. Sebastian obviously took a trip into the gravel this morning, which wouldn’t have helped their preparations. But Red Bull haven’t lost it. They’re still going to be competitive and we can never forget that but at the moment, we’re going to enjoy this moment and go out tomorrow and hopefully have a great race.”
Shock of the day Grosjean, starting his first full F1 season, was justifiably proud of such a strong start. The Frenchman was forced to rebuild his reputation after struggling when parachuted in to replace Nelson Piquet Jr in the then Renault team during 2009.
“It’s really nice to be back in Formula One,” said Grosjean. “Winter testing went pretty well and today I’m very proud to be part of this experience with Lotus. I think a few people believed in me the first time and today I’m back, well, almost to the top, and I’m very proud to be with those guys here and hope we can keep going that way all season long and then it will be a very nice story.”
Grosjean will start alongside seven time world champion Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) on row two of the grid. Grosjean’s team-mate and returning former champion Kimi Raikkonen qualified just 18th on the grid.
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