Hamilton outwits Rosberg in Mercedes one-two

Briton driver 0.007 seconds faster than teammate in Singapore qualifying.

SINGAPORE: A remarkably cool Lewis Hamilton snatched a dramatic last-gasp pole position from his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg for Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix with a phenomenal qualifying lap on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Briton left it late, crossing the line after three rivals had in succession cut their times to take provisional pole to the raucous delight of the crowd as he secured the prime starting position by just 0.007 seconds — or less than the length of their Mercedes' nose cones.



Rosberg, who leads him by 22 points in the drivers' championship with six races remaining, will start alongside him from second place after the Mercedes pairing grabbed their team's seventh one-two of the year. It was Hamilton's third pole in Singapore, his sixth this season and the 37th of his career.

Rosberg's reaction was pithy, but understandable when he was given the news on team radio, "Dammit!" But, after an intriguing session, there was none of the acrimony that has punctuated their duel for glory this year. Hamilton, who is putting Rosberg under pressure with his speed in recent races, raised a fist to celebrate in his car, but stayed calm after the session.

"I knew I had the pace, but it was just about putting the sectors together which is not easy," he said.

"It's the most incredible feeling when you do it on your last lap, with all the pressure and when the smallest mistake could lose you a lot.

"It's a great day, but there is a lot to do tomorrow [Sunday]."

Australian Daniel Ricciardo delighted many of his compatriots packed into the Marina Bay street circuit by claiming third on the grid for Red Bull ahead of his teammate and defending four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, winner of the last three Singapore races.

"It was good fun out there and the track was improving as qualifying went on," said Ricciardo. Behind the two Red Bulls,  two-time former champion Fernando Alonso qualified fifth for Ferrari ahead of Felipe Massa of Williams and Kimi Raikkonen, who was seventh in the second Ferrari.

On a tense and thrilling evening, Valtteri Bottas was eighth in the second Williams ahead of Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen of McLaren and Daniil Kvyat for Toro Rosso.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2014.

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