It was not plain sailing for the triple world champion, who saw his first time in Q3 being deleted for exceeding track limits at Copse.
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He and Rosberg were instructed by Mercedes to obey revised “rules of engagement” in Sunday’s race – after crashing three times in their last five outings – or face serious sanctions including fines and suspensions.
“There was a lot of pressure on that last lap but I knew I couldn’t let those guys down”, said Hamilton, who is bidding to secure a hat-trick of victories in front of his home crowd on Sunday. It didn’t feel like I was going to be running wide, but the auto bounced just outside the line.
Rosberg was clocked doing a 2:26.444 following his first flying lap of Q1, which, by comparison, was 28 seconds slower than Lewis Hamilton’s cool-down lap at the same part of qualifying.
At the time, that was 0.7secs faster than Rosberg and Hamilton revelled in his performance on one of his favourite circuits. “I appreciate it more than anything and it’s why I did the lap”.
The FIA sets a maximum time for in-laps during qualifying, with FIA race director Charlie Whiting setting the mark at 1:45.000 at Silverstone.
The rule exists to help reduce the risk of accidents caused by slow drivers interfering with others on fast laps.
However having heard from Rosberg and a team representative, as well as studying video evidence, the stewards chose not to penalise the German because he “was not on an in lap when the time between the Safety Car lines was set”. ‘This wasn’t my best day, but I’m focusing on tomorrow.
“I didn’t think there was anything that needed to be cleared up”, Hamilton added. We just get on with our job, there’s a long way to go and I will try to not to be in that position again and I can’t speak for him, but I’m sure Nico will do the same.
While Vettel was sixth in qualifying, he will start 11th after taking a five-place penalty for a gearbox change for a second straight race.
‘The penultimate lap was a very good lap which unfortunately was taken away, ‘ said the 31-year-old.
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Nico Hulkenberg was eighth for Force India, then the two Spaniards, Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso and two-time champion Fernando Alonso in the resurgent McLaren Honda.
