Lewis Hamilton was happy to qualify on the front row of the grid at the Circuit of the Americas, especially after finding himself rotating at turn ten after aquaplaning at the fast downhill kink that is flat out in the dry.
The Mercedes AMG PETRONAS driver admitted it was difficult conditions to qualify in, and at times it was just a case of keeping the car on the circuit, and knows if the conditions remain similar during the race it will be long and demanding.
“It was a generally a good qualifying session for me,” reflected Hamilton. “I was looking to go out again at the end but then the rain came down heavier and of course Q3 was cancelled altogether.
“It was wetter at Turn 10 than everywhere else with loads of aquaplaning. We could maybe have gone out and seen if the track would dry up a bit – but it was incredibly tricky out there and you need to be very sensible in such situations. You’re on tip-toes in these conditions and really you just have to try to keep going and bring the car round.
“I’m happy for the team to get the 1-2 and, as always, qualifying is just the beginning. The race will be long, long battle if the conditions stay like this.”
