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Mercedes have struggled all weekend at the Istanbul circuit as they look to add to their seventh consecutive constructors ‘title at Imola last time with the drivers’ title through Lewis Hamilton.
He needs to leave Turkey with at least a 78 point lead over Valtteri Bottas and is currently 85 points ahead of his Finnish teammate.
Speaking after qualifying, in which he was only able to finish sixth, reigning world champion Hamilton, who can match Michael Schumacher in seven titles today, said: “We did our best and did the best we could and that was the most. fast we were able to go.
“I mean the track feels terrible, it’s like driving on ice. For some reason some people can get their tires on better than we can. I think in the end we were all struggling, but some are better than others.”
“But I did my best, I didn’t turn, I didn’t really make any mistakes, so overall I’m happy with what I did. I did everything I could with what I had.”
Bottas added: “Getting the tires working and warming them up has been the story of the weekend so far.
“We really tried everything we could, but in the end when we went to Inter in Q3, we only had two laps and it was never enough to create enough temperature in the tires.
“Other teams are doing a better job in that area. If we start in the interests maybe [we would have been able to get up there], but it is a question mark.
“Still, I think some other cars can generate a lot more temperature in the tires than our car.”
One of those teams is Red Bull, with Max Verstappen frustrated only to take second place behind Lance Stroll at Racing Point.
“I think this is the first time this year that I have felt angry here. I think that says it all,” Verstappen said at the post-qualifying press conference.
“Everything was going pretty well with the wet tires, but already, in Q1, when I tried to go to the interests, they weren’t working at all, not even compared to other people in the interests around me.
“So, in Q3, I wasn’t really sure about going to interest because I felt very comfortable in the extreme. [wet] tires.
“I’m upset because we were actually first all weekend, it seemed very comfortable and then you lose in Q3. So at the end of the day I don’t care where the Mercedes is.
“I just look at our performance and that’s not good in Q3, that’s why I’m so upset. You can’t look at other people’s performance to judge your performance; you look at yourself. And clearly in Q3 it was not right. “
The Dutchman has yet to secure pole position in 2020, but the man starting at the front of the grid, Canadian Stroll, said: “Today was incredible and one of the best moments of my Formula 1 career. When they told me On the radio that I had taken pole, I was thinking: ‘pinch me, I’m dreaming!’.
“I am still a bit lost for words. I have dreamed of days like these and it is a special moment.
“Conditions were incredibly slippery and it was very difficult to drive, but my confidence in the car built up during qualifying and I was rebuilding everything.
“We knew he would make it to the last lap and we put it together for pole. I’m going to let this sink in and enjoy it before thinking about tomorrow. We know it will be difficult with Max around and the Mercedes will probably progress.
“But we have both cars in great positions and we can aspire to score important points for the team to make it a really special weekend. I had never been to Istanbul before this weekend, but I definitely love it now!”
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