Hamilton still dreaming of home podium from fifth
SILVERSTONE, England - Lewis Hamilton was still dreaming of his first podium with Ferrari after qualifying fifth for his home British Grand Prix on Saturday.
The seven-times world champion had looked like he could take his first pole position in nearly two years but ultimately fell short at Silverstone, a circuit where he was an unrivalled record of success.
He was fastest in the second phase, raising the crowd's expectations, but then lost time when it mattered in the top 10 shootout.
"The lap was pretty decent at the end and then I lost a bit of time in the last corner, which probably would have put me on the front row or at least third," said the nine-times British GP winner with McLaren and Mercedes.
"We were right on the knife edge I think, other than that I squeezed everything I could out the car."
Ferrari brought a floor upgrade to Austria last weekend and Hamilton, who won a sprint race in China but has otherwise not finished higher than fourth since joining from Mercedes in January, said he was feeling better in the car.
"This track is incredible, the crowd's been amazing but we needed just a little bit more, like another tenth of performance in the car just to nudge us a little bit closer to the front guys," he said.
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"Of course, I'll dream of it tonight and I'll try and execute tomorrow," the 40-year-old said of the podium. "I think the weather's going to be interesting."
Teammate Charles Leclerc qualified sixth, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen pole position ahead of the McLarens of championship leader Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
"The pace was there for the front row but I eventually didn't do the job when I needed to. I lost the car in the last two corners and lost a lot of lap time," said Leclerc. REUTERS
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