Hamilton did not want to take unnecessary risks in FP1

It is rare to see Lewis Hamilton at the very bottom of a timesheet. However, this was the case this Friday morning in Interlagos at the end ofa Free Practice 1 session started under downpours of rain and ended on a route which was drying out. 

While his teammate Valtteri Bottas completed 10 laps with the second best time behind Alexander albon, the Briton was very discreet with only a pair of installation rounds. 

« I didn't really go out in EL1, Hamilton said Friday evening. The team asked me to take the track but I told them: " What is the point? » given that the track will be dry for the rest of the weekend. Why risk something when there is nothing at stake? »

The now six-time world champion was more diligent with 39 laps and the 5th time, 0''223 ​​from the reference established by Sebastian Vettel, during EL2.

« From the start, we managed to find a good working base and the session was clear., enthused the pilot Mercedes. We just made some adjustments. THE Ferrari seem pretty fast this weekend. They are mainly beating us on the straights at the moment. We're going to work this evening to continue refining everything. The timing is a little tighter since we only have two real sessions to prepare as best as possible. But we got off to a good start no matter what. ».

Toto wolff, the main Mercedes team, is not present in the Silver Arrows garage this weekend. A first since 2013 but Hamilton ensures that the presence of the captain is still felt among the troops. 

« He organized everything in this stable, he was the one who put the key people in the positions they are currently in., said the Briton. Ok, we can't see him on the pit wall but he works just as hard as in any other round. He doesn't physically participate in the debriefings but he is listening on the other end of the phone so we all keep each other in check ».