Lewis strolls to pole

The British McLaren Mercedes driver has looked mighty quick all weekend and he secured pole at Hockenheim with a final flyer which looked almost effortless as he whipped his MP4/23 round without any obvious errors.

With his third pole under his belt, Lewis looked very relaxed in the post-qualifying press conference and said he didn't feel there were any big areas where he could have improved. "I knew I had it in me; I knew we had the pace," he summarised what, so far, has been an impressive weekend for the championship leader. Lewis also remarked on recent improvements to the car which he said had made "some great steps forward."

Felipe, who was quickest in Q1 and finished second, looked relieved to be back at the business end of a Saturday in Formula One after his difficult weekend at Silverstone. He was initially quickest in Q3 and established a margin of half a second over Lewis, before the McLaren driver leap-frogged him to take the top spot by almost two-tenths.

Heikki who looked more ragged than Lewis, especially at the exit of Turn 12 where he ran wide on his frist flyer in Q3, was third, with Jarno fourth and Fernando fifth. The surprise was Kimi who finished back in sixth after a session when he never looked happy in a poorly-balanced car that was constantly trying to get away from him.

Nick Heidfeld, meanwhile, found himself back in the deep mid-field and will start from 12th after running wide at the hairpin on his last lap in Q2. With Robert seventh, it looks like being a tough weekend for BMW as they struggle to hold their place at the top table.

   

Comments

[javiervivaespania]

Yes, yes, Alonso's improvements in the garage are working!
I foresee the next podium:
1) Hamilton
2) Alonsooooooo
3) Raikonnen

Massa and Kovalainen will be out of race.

[P M Reddy]

It has been a perfect drive from Lewis during the qualifying. He will definitely win the race tommorrow.

P M Reddy, Dubai

[McLaren most sporting team in F1]

Yahoooooo - McLaren strike again!!

[Marie]

Question: Ed, do you think Michael advises Kimi (and/or Kimi's part of the garage) on what strategies he would use, and if that's the case, do you think he would listen; for in this particular race, Massa either seem to be in a vastly different strategy than Kimi's or Kimi is just having a difficult time handling the balance of the car?

[Jordi]

I'm sure LH is going to win tomorrow, and I also know what he is going to say after the race:

LH: This was my best race ever, ever, ever.

[MCLAREN THE MOST HYPOCRITICAL TEAM IN F1]

Pussycat boyfriend will start the German GP from pole position, building on the 68 seconds lead after a thrashing of the field imperius win at Silverstone.

great

[McLaren most sporting team in F1]

Me thinks McCeets is a very sad fellow.

Here's hoping for a McLaren one, two, it will add real spice to the championship.
For sure Lewis is the real deal, not so sure of his dad though! Stay focused Lewis, remember it is YOU that has the talent.

[Gary M]

How is the weather looking Ed? From what I can find on the web does not look like rain at the moment.

I am not sure if Lewis will be able to get too far away from Massa in the early part of the race, I can see a bit of a battle developing and with something to prove after Silverstone I can see Felipe having a few nibbles at Lewis, who knows maybe grabbing half a chance to pass him.

With these two slowing each other down I would expect to see a more tightly bunched race up front until the first round of pitstops and maybe opportunity for Alonso to clear a couple of cars and maybe add some spice to the fight for P1.

Probably not but here's hoping, it would certainly make for a thrilling race. A real test for Lewis I think today and a chance to really stamp his authority on the season and prove his championship credentials.

Looking forward to it, best of luck everyone.

[Ed Gorman]

Hi Marie

As far as I know Michael has never really been involved with Kimi's side of the garage, unless there has been a change recently. Up until now he has been advising Felipe and we have had the impression that Kimi is not particularly interested in Michael's input.

[Ed Gorman]

Weatherwise, there are different views among the teams with some expecting a shower during the race while others are confident it will stay dry. Just now(12.30pm) is is dry but breezy and there are some dark clouds around...

[Jorge]

Kovalainen just let Hamilton overtake him for the second time this season. On last GP I thought it had been very suspicious, but today I have no doubts.

I'd love to watch you say again that you believe RD when he repeats like a parrot that at McLaren both drivers have always the same opportunities, Ed.

If there was any doubts about RD's "hidden" game last year now its clear as day.

Shame on you, Dennis...

[Richard]

After Hockenheim - it is indisputable, supported by statistics - but primarily all the senses - At this stage of his career, Lewis Hamilton is the all time F1 maestro, when compared with his peers at the same stage of their careers. No arguments...

[Derek Smith]

Lewis had to do a bit more than stroll for his win.

Fabulous race. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought Mclaren had blown it and had to eat humble pie at home.

Piquet! What a good race he had. So how good is the Renault? I thought it was a bit of a dog given Alonso's performance but now I'm not so sure.

Massa was disappointing. I thought he'd put his bad early-season races behind him. Let's hope he gets it together again as he seems to be the only person who can challenge LH for the title.

[Samuel]

Javiervivaespania, you almost got the prediction.
Nelson replaces Alonso (copying him as Lewis did last year)!
Do you think Magic will still allow Nelson to continue copying his tricks?
I guess Nelson has killed the peace in Renault and the tension in McLarens may replace the peaceful atmosphere over there.
GOOD TEAM-WORK FOR McCLAREN

[A Parker]

Posting all the way from sunny Mykonos. Well done Lewey - where are your detractors now? What more do you have to prove? Loved that Nelson was 2nd despite the once again ludicrous predictions from some on this site. Lewey you are the BEST! So happy!

[Stevo]

Fantastico drive by Lewis - Massa was like a puppy dog that just rolled over, could you imagine Schuey letting Lewis past so easily? Ferrari are in a fix with one driver that doesn't care anymore and the other that just isn't good enough.

As for Nelson - isn't it obvious? He must have copied 'not so' Magic's settings - I mean Lewis still is, a year on and it works for him. jejeje. Actually, 'not so' magic should write a book so the rest of the field can copy his settings - and then they too can routinly spin at every race, drive off the track and be beaten by a rookie team mate - just like 'not so' magic.

Great win for Lewis - I follow the f1 live timing and he was averaging over a second a lap quicker than anyone - his sector 3 time was always 3 - 4 tenths quicker than massa etc. He is the Messiah!

[Statement From Ferrari]

Well done to Nelson. He was in the right place at the right time. Enjoy your moment as I do not think you'll have another like this for the rest of the season.

Luca di Cordero is having quite a nasty word with a below performing team (including stefano Domenicali, Massa ans Kimi). Forget about drivers contracts...If they do not perform, they are OUT as soon as in two months!

All those Alonso fans must be happy...but hold on, if your bmagic boy performs like he did today, he may be riding for Force India next year.

About Lewis, well, he was the best driver in the best car today.

Not looking good for Ferrari. Next circuits look like McLaren's: Hungaroring, Valencia and Monza (yes, Monza). We may not see a Ferrari victory until Belgium...

[raggy]

To try to get round all the ill-tempered and partisan shouting about who is best, I wondered if a simple figure of merit for each driver could be obtained from his victories expressed as a percentage of his starts. This is of course the way all the drivers will eventually be seen, when the shouting about how badly they are treated has died away.

For the drivers who score more than 10% at this game, the list is:

1 Fangio, 24 victories from 57 starts, 42.1%
2 Ascari, 13/34, 38.2%
3 Michael Schumacher, 91/250, 36.4%
4 Jim Clark, 25/74, 33.8%
5 Nuvolari, 107/353, 30.3%
6 Hamilton, 8/27, 29.6%
7 Jackie Stewart, 27/100, 27.0%
8 Senna, 41/162, 25.3%
9 Prost, 51/202, 25.2%
10 Moss, 16/73, 21.9%
11 Damon Hill, 22/122, 18.0%
12 Alonso, 19/115, 16.5%
13 Mansell, 31/190, 16.3%
14 Tony Brooks, 6/41, 14.6%
15 Lauda, 25/177, 14.1%
16 Farina, 5/37, 13.5%
17 Raikkonen, 17/132, 12.9%
18 Hakkinen, 20/165, 12.1%
19 Picquet, 23/207, 11.1%
20 Brabham, 14/129, 10.9%
21 Hunt, 10/92, 10.9%
22 Alan Jones, 12/117, 10.2%

If you post this, Ed, I'll review it at the end of he season.

[CHIUNDA]

Its got to scare the competition how good that car is that McLaren can make such a devastating mistake and still come back to overtake a Ferrari - a half a second faster in a drag race! wow!!I guess the important question now is how long before Ferrari respond with credible upgrades - one only hopes that it will be long enough to allow Hamilton to build a decent gap in the WDC that he can protect through conservative strategy later on in the season.

The most interesting part was that the one time the Renault gets on the podium it is not put there by Alonso but rather by his less illustrious team mate - Briatore last year was arrogant enough to claim Dennis didn't have the skills to manage Mediterranean temperament - well all the best to him for the remainder of the season.

[FERRARI iS IN TROUBLE]

Chiunda,

The situation Nelson-Alonso can't compare with the situation Alonso-Hamilton.

Nelson drove well today but you have to recognise that he enjoyed all the luck of the world as he was the only driver on a one stop strategy and the SC just came out the lap after he fuelled. One lap before and he would had finished last.

Alonso has been more consistent than Nelson all year round. I know it, you know it, Briatore knows it, Nelson knows it, LCdM knows it. Analyse things in the right context.

Nevermind, McLaren is now ahead of Ferrari. And has the advantage of having a driver who has clearly assumed no 2 status (Kova - he knew from the moment he signed the contract) whilst Ferrari has 2 drivers still fighting for the WDC and none of them enjoying driver No 1 status really. Whre is Mclaren's equality? - nothing wrong with that, though

Believe you me. Today's result has deeply disturbed LCdM. Up to the point that he has already been on the phone requesting an urgent meeting. If they don't pick up things in Hungaroring, heads will roll - and Alonso will drive for the cavallino from as soon as 2009...
Stefano, you just be careful!

Because:
a) Massa is not a winner and is not good enough. Everybody knows that.
b) Kimi can't care less. He is not a fighter. I am really disappointed with him (and so many people in Ferrari)
c) LCdM knows Alonso is the only driver out there who would love to beat Lewis and who could put a brave fight to successfully stop the McLaren bred driver.

And whether you are a Ferrari/McLaren supporter or not, this is what everybody wants to see. The two best drivers in the two best cars, fighting against each other to the limit.

2009, please bring it on!!

Luca, I am who I am. Please listen to me and get Alonso to Ferrari NOW!!

[CHIUNDA]

Its got to scare the competition how good that car is that McLaren can make such a devastating mistake and still come back to overtake a Ferrari - a half a second faster in a drag race! wow!!I guess the important question now is how long before Ferrari respond with credible upgrades - one only hopes that it will be long enough to allow Hamilton to build a decent gap in the WDC that he can protect through conservative strategy later on in the season.

The most interesting part was that the one time the Renault gets on the podium it is not put there by Alonso but rather by his less illustrious team mate - Briatore last year was arrogant enough to claim Dennis didn't have the skills to manage Mediterranean temperament - well all the best to him for the remainder of the season.

Alonso thinks Piquet only got it because of luck - "People like my teammate, who had some problems during the weekend, who could not find the pace, suddenly get a safety car period and found himself on the podium. So that was basically it."

Piquet doesnt agree entirely and maybe the Spaniard is not so good in setting up a car eeehh? "Fernando even used a bit of our set-up as I think they went the wrong way a bit." - does this kid know what kind of trouble he has just got himself into?