Hamilton: This result will add motivation

Lewis Hamilton on Mercedes’ successful performance in Melbourne qualifying…

Q: Lewis, glad to see you again at the press conference after qualifying. How do you explain Mercedes’ success?
Lewis Hamilton: I think the point is on a certain track, but it’s important that no one in our team gives up, doesn’t let their head down – everyone is working hard and trying to get the most out of the equipment we have.

Yes, we don’t have enough downforce, but today everything worked out. It’s great that we’re on both sides of Max here, and I really hope we can hold him somehow tomorrow. It will probably come off at a distance, as it has happened more than once, but we’ll do our best.

Question: Can you fight for victory?
Lewis Hamilton: Hard to say. This weekend I didn’t work on a long set of circles. Tomorrow I will do it for the first time and I have no idea what the backlog will be. I think they will be half a second faster. Maybe the strategy will allow us to hold on, moreover, there are two of us and there is only one Red Bull driver in the group of leaders. Let’s see.

Q: At one point you were on the intermediate post. At the time, didn’t you think you could take ninth pole on this track?
Lewis Hamilton: Yes, the circle turned out great. I didn’t even believe it when I saw myself on the top line. But then I saw Max come full circle next.

It is not easy to put the tires into use here. For me they didn’t work in the best way so the second round failed. But I did my best. Tomorrow I will do better.

Q: Before the last attempt, Hulkenberg interfered with you, did it stop you from going faster?
Lewis Hamilton: It confused me a bit, I couldn’t keep up with the pace in the last sector, but a lot happened. As a result, the tires did not have sufficient temperature.

Q: Does today’s result change your attitude towards the continuation of the season?
Lewis Hamilton: No. But I think he will give the team a glimmer of hope and inspire further efforts. We know that if we improve, we can close the gap with the leaders.

On some routes the gap will be greater, on others less. We have a reliable car, we can earn points and if it gets faster we will try to put pressure on the leaders and fight for wins. It would be incredible!