Hamilton: “Austin is a fantastic circuit, I love it”

Author of the 72nd pole position in ten years of career in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton is going through a prosperous period. Credited with 59 points ahead of Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) at the start of the United States Grand Prix in Austin (Texas), the wearer of number 44 could win the crown on Sunday evening in the event of a victory and sixth place for his rival.

Happy poleman, Lewis Hamilton especially appreciates the nature of the Austin track. “It’s a fantastic circuit, thanks to the constantly changing wind. It’s a real challenge, when you ride in the S of the first sector, the direction of the wind changes with each curve”, He explains. “It goes from the headwind at the first braking, to the tailwind in the enfilade and finally back to the headwind at the exit of turn 9. I love it! »

72nd career pole

11th pole of 2017

New @COTA track record

All-time F1 record for most front rows

Here's how @LewisHamilton did it#USGP pic.twitter.com/EoU0yBwVy7

- Formula 1 (@ F1) 21th October, 2017

The leader of the Drivers ranking even compares this portion to a “dancing with the wind”. But one wrong step and Mercedes lost a few tenths in his final effort. “On my last lap of Q3, I was surprised by a gust of wind, that could well happen. »

The Briton also regrets that viewers cannot understand the exceptional nature of this sector, similar to the Maggots-Becketts-Chapel sequence at Silverstone. “It’s a shame that television isn’t capable of showing the forces acting, not just on the driver’s body, but through the car and the tires. I think that here, more than anywhere else, you can really see the movements of the car. The public may not realize how tight these turns are, and how easily we go through them! »

Concerning the championship, Lewis Hamilton is deliberately cautious. “There is still a long way to go. In the next four events, Sebastian and his team will continue to work as much as possible. So I will try to defend my rank, but also to maximize this race and win everything. »