Hamilton: aiming for pole position!

All sorts of allegations have been circulating since the beginning of the week, but it will ultimately be the drivers and the Yas Marina track that will write the definitive history of this finale.

As often this year, the two Mercedes drivers took control of the timesheets in both Friday sessions. The Briton – in pursuit of victory and more – maintained his level and pace; but Nico Rosberg is definitely still clinging to his exhausts!

The two championship rivals carried out their test day without any issues, testing their cars in warmer conditions at the beginning of the afternoon than at the end, while choosing to run on ultra-soft and soft tires.

Lewis Hamilton -> FP1: 1st (1:42.869; 28 laps); FP2: 1st (1:40.861; 35 laps)

The entire Formula 1 world knows it well: the triple world champion does not have his fate in his own hands. He will already be aiming for a third victory in Abu Dhabi – after those achieved in 2011 and 2014.

On track at the Yas Marina circuit, the Briton felt comfortable behind the wheel of his single-seater and pleased with the work accomplished during this day of testing.

It was a very good day, overall without any issues. The first lap launched during FP2 wasn’t optimal because there was traffic and I didn’t have the opportunity to do a perfect lap. Despite that, I managed to set a decent time. Not perfect, I was still looking for the right feeling with the car; but good enough. We worked a lot on both short and long runs.

The absolute goal now for Lewis Hamilton is pole position during qualifying, he confirms: « I’m delighted with the car’s performance. We are in a good position for tomorrow. The ultimate goal is Pole Position. I haven’t done well here for a while, but I know I’m fast. The car seems to be performing well, and there’s still time to gain, and that’s my main objective. » Let’s note in passing that the three-time world champion has accomplished this feat twice, in 2012 and 2014; just like Nico Rosberg.

He will be all the more determined to shine while remembering the doctor and friend who supported and mentored him during his time at McLaren: Aki Hintsa, who passed away last week. Lewis Hamilton also paid tribute to him with a feature on his helmet this weekend.

For Aki. #GodBless #RIPAki pic.twitter.com/aZQZn9w7S7

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) 25 novembre 2016

Nico Rosberg -> FP1: 2nd (1:43.243; 31 laps); FP2: 2nd (1:40.940; 31 laps)

On his side, the Championship leader and winner in Abu Dhabi in 2015 secured second place twice. In front of journalists, he expressed himself much more cautiously, focusing on the analysis of the day and track conditions. Nevertheless, let’s commend his strong performance in FP2, where he closed the gap to his teammate from three-tenths to seven-hundredths.

He states: « It’s a good start. The car immediately began with a balance going in the right direction. It’s always interesting to go from hot conditions to cooler ones between the afternoon and evening sessions. Adapting to that and knowing what to expect can be a challenge, but our car performed well in both conditions with low and high fuel loads. The graining on the front tires when they are cold is the main thing we need to get familiar with to achieve more grip for the race. »

The two drivers are thus launched towards their mission: conquering the Grail. Rosberg’s path seems less tortuous than Hamilton’s, but now every lap on the track from the start of FP3 will be of utmost importance. The ultimate battle is just beginning. Even if already, the Briton may have scored the first psychological point of the weekend…