Lewis Hamilton says he disagrees with fans at the British Grand Prix booing rival Max Verstappen, saying: “We’re better than that”. The Dutchman was jeered by a section of the crowd while giving his interview after qualifying second to Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz at Silverstone. Hamilton, who was booed by Verstappen’s fans during their title race last year, said: “I would say we don’t need to do that. “No booing. We have such great fans. Sports fans have emotions up and down, but I definitely don’t agree with booing.” But Hamilton said he understood the emotions that may have led to the booing after the controversial conclusion to last year’s championship, when Hamilton lost out on an eighth world title after the race director misapplied the rules in the final race of the season. “It makes no difference when you’re making fun of someone,” he said. “They’ve already made the mistake or whatever, but I really appreciate the support I have here. Maybe some of them feel the pain here from last year.” Verstappen said the fans’ behavior “was a bit disappointing” because he couldn’t hear interviewer Billy Monger’s questions. “It was a bit of a problem,” he said. “But the rest… if they want to boo, they can. For me, nothing’s going to change. I’m always happy to be here. It’s a great track, it’s a great atmosphere in general. Maybe some of them, they don’t like me, but that’s okay. Everybody’s got their own opinions, you know? I don’t care.” And Hamilton’s Mercedes F1 team principal, Toto Wolff, said: “We shouldn’t see booing in any sport. This is unsporting. “We love the support the drivers have here, but if you’re not friends with the other kids, keep quiet, that would be a good way. No driver deserves that, no matter what happened last year, no matter what the competition. “Being booed is abusive and for this emotional sport that’s controversial because you’re a fan and not a fan of one driver or another, that’s fine – but there’s a certain line we shouldn’t cross.”
Disappointment on track for Hamilton
For much of an exciting qualifying session in difficult wet conditions, Hamilton was a contender for fastest lap. However, he dropped to fifth on the grid at the end as a result of a strategic error by the Mercedes team. He was on a fastest lap in the final moments of qualifying but was told to call it quits so he could charge his hybrid system’s battery for a final lap in higher power mode. But the rain fell heavier in the meantime, and Hamilton could not improve. Hamilton said: “In the rain, we were fighting for the front row, and it was until the second to last lap. We were up there and I was asked to back off and go for the last lap. , but then it rained. Just a bit unlucky. “I was so optimistic because we have this incredible crowd and all of a sudden I got into the race and it felt great. “I was second by 0.02s and I said, ‘I can definitely go faster than that.’ And I think I was 0.2s up and then they said, ‘Back off and go again.’ And the next lap I didn’t he was so good.” Nigel Mansell congratulated Sainz
Hopes for a counterattack
The conclusion of qualifying was a disappointing moment in what had been a promising weekend for Mercedes, after an aerodynamic upgrade appeared to improve the car’s performance. Hamilton said he would “try to pull off something special” for the race. However, he warned not to expect him to fight for victory against both Ferrari and Red Bulls – Verstappen’s title rival Charles Leclerc is third for Ferrari, with Red Bull runner-up Sergio Perez in fourth. “We have a good race car, I think,” Hamilton said. “I don’t know if we can challenge for the win. The Red Bulls are so quick in the dry. They’re pulling away from the straights at the moment. “Through the high speed, they don’t bounce where we bounce, especially in corners. That’s where they’re walking away from me right now. “The pace of the race was a little better [in Friday practice]. I think it’s still a bit ahead, but we’ll see. I’m hoping we’ll be closer to the race pace compared to the last race, and if we can just hold them off, maybe we can go some way. I’ll be aggressive, don’t worry.”
Has Mercedes made progress?
Hamilton and team-mate George Russell were close to the pace all weekend after the introduction of Mercedes’ new parts. But Hamilton said he was not sure the team had actually closed the gap on the teams at the front, who also introduced developments at Silverstone. Hamilton said: “We’ve made a step but we’re at a track where it’s medium and high-speed. We’re not great in the low-speed corners and there’s a lot less of that here. “Our car is quite good at high speed. When we were in Barcelona [for the Spanish Grand Prix]we passed quickly [Turns] Three and Nine [the fastest on the track]. “There’s a lot of high speed here, so of course we’re a little bit closer. But I don’t know if we have closed the gap [to Red Bull and Ferrari]. The upgrade we brought, they have brought the same, so I don’t think we have closed the gap, personally.” Russell in bounced cars, Hamilton and Silverstone
Ferrari hopes to beat Verstappen
Leclerc entered the weekend hoping Ferrari could have four strong races before the summer break after a brutal run of events in which a series of problems saw Verstappen’s 46-point championship lead cut to 49 – points deficit. Leclerc was also on pole until a spin on his final lap left him third, but teammate Sainz won ahead of Verstappen. The Ferrari drivers said they would try to use teamwork to beat the Red Bulls. Leclerc said: “Of course I would be very happy if Carlos wins the race, but I’m not going to hide that I want to win too. “The most important thing is to finish one or two, whatever, and if we can play strategic moves inside the cars, I’m sure we will. I felt confident in the car, so let’s wait and see.” Sainz added: “We will work as a team as we have done all season and I am sure that between Charles and myself we can put up a good fight with Max, not forgetting Checo. [Perez]. If we keep working like we’ve been working all year, we can get one or two.” Verstappen’s chance for pole was lost as a result of Leclerc’s late error, which brought out yellow caution flags and forced the world champion to drop back on his final lap. He said: “It’s as tight all the time, every heat or race as it was last time [in Canada]. I hope we all have a fun match.”
