Hamilton calm despite qualifying nightmare
Lewis Hamilton has taken full responsibility for his worst qualifying result of the year but says it does not faze him.
“I don’t look at this race as a particularly important race – it’s as important as any other race to me,” insisted Hamilton.
“So it’s not a standout individual important race for me, there’s still two more after this.
“Naturally I approach it exactly the same, not looking to pull out miracles tomorrow.
“Things happen for a reason and today is a lesson learnt and I will try to see if I can turn a negative into a positive, for sure.”
Hamilton’s father Anthony raring to go
Anthony Hamilton, Lewis’ father has explained just how far his son has come on the road to this point.
“Nothing has changed. Standing here on the grid today, it feels like the first time in 2007 when we had the opportunity to win a world championship,” he told BBC Radio 5Live.
“I’m as nervous as hell, but I’m enjoying it, I’m happy to be here and I think it is very, very surreal – here we are, sixth world championship on the brink, it’s absolutely amazing.
“Not bad for for a boy from a Stevenage council house.”
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It may be a landmark day for Lewis Hamilton who could win his sixth F1 Drivers’ Championship.
The Mercedes star can be crowned champion even with an eighth-placed finish in Austin, Texas.
Yet it’s his team-mate and rival Valtteri Bottas who starts on pole after qualifying.
Sebastian Vettel is in second with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third.
Hamilton finished fifth, which was his worst qualifying result of the year but he despite that he can still make history by becoming the second driver after seven-time champion Michael Schumacher to win his sixth drivers’ crown.