Hamilton, pure 100: “I have trouble digesting, it’s a huge number”

For a centenarian, Lewis Hamilton keeps a lot of energy! The same one he displayed on Saturday June 9, 2007 in Montreal (Canada), scene of his very first career pole position. It was with McLaren during a resounding rookie season.

At the time, the Q1-Q2-Q3 format already existed but the drivers did not all carry the same quantities of fuel during the last phase of qualifying. The races always included refueling and the cars started with a mass of fuel identical to that observed at the start of Q3.

« I remember that I campaigned to have the same quantity of fuel as my teammate (some Fernando Alonso, Editor’s note), rewound Hamilton in Barcelona. In case you don't know, 10 kilos of gasoline costs you 3 tenths here for example. And if you had an extra turn of gas, it was something like a tenth and a half ». 

The seven-time world champion didn't wait to score 99 additional poles to make the history of his sport, but that doesn't stop him from continuing to write his legend. 

« I'm having trouble digesting it at the moment, it's a huge number, Hamilton whispered again. I don't know what to tell you. I don't know what I should feel. I have a hard time describing how crazy and amazing it is. 

I can't believe we reached these 100 poles. This success rewards the incredible work of the guys and girls at Brackley and Brixworth, who continue to push the limits. 

It's a dream to work with them. Who would have thought we would be here today when I made the decision to join them at the end of 2012? I am very grateful to them. I'm as happy as if it was my first pole ». 

If this 100th was perhaps not as roaring as his masterpiece in Singapore in 2018, to cite the pole which instantly marks the spirits when we mention Hamilton, it highlights another quality of the crack from Stevenage (UK). Uni): his ability to always be there in big moments. 

Lagging behind during Q1, then Q2, Hamilton jumped during the first runs in Q3 to take a provisional pole which would become definitive as no one improved at the end of the session. 

« We've been in the game since the start of the weekend, we were very good in FP3, but we made some changes before qualifying, as we always do to improve the car, explained Hamilton. 

It's always a risky bet because you have to think about the race as well. From the first laps in qualifying, I told myself that we had taken the wrong direction (laughs). It was my decision but it was really hard at the start, hence my times in Q1 and Q2. I had a lot of understeer, the car was really lazy, it didn't want to turn in basically. 

I tried to correct the situation with small adjustments and the first lap in Q1 was my best attempt of the session ». 

14 years ago, at the 2007 Canadian GP, ​​Hamilton converted his first pole with his first victory in F1 the day after. Sunday in Barcelona, ​​the Mercedes driver will aim for a 98th career success. The next secular feat is probably only a matter of weeks.