Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
Lewis Hamilton revealed he used tools he had not touched for around 13 years as he took his first pole position for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
It was an emotional pole for Hamilton, the 105th of his career, as he looked back at Michael Schumacher's success with the Scuderia in the post race press conference.
The Ferrari driver explained that getting his tyres into the right operating window was crucial to his qualifying success, having felt throughout the weekend that pole was within reach.
“Honestly, I felt I knew all weekend that I had the pace to be on pole. But these sessions were just up and down. Obviously, Charles was very, very quick,” Hamilton said.
“I think the key is getting the tyres working and, you know, you see us all go out and it looks like we’re doing okay, but the tyres operate in a very small window where they’re good and then they overheat.”
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Hamilton explains breakthrough after years of tyre struggles
Hamilton said he was making progress with an area that had challenged him for several seasons, particularly since the introduction of 18-inch tyres.
“And I’m really perfecting that. That’s been something I’ve really struggled with, I would say, over probably the last few years, particularly as we went to the 18-inch tyre, and so just learning to drive differently. And it’s a bit of a different skill set, or just a different way you have to drive and approach these corners. And it requires a different type of balance usage.”
Hamilton added that he revisited tools he had not used for more than a decade, although he did not specify what those were. “I think I was able to utilise a couple more tools that I’ve not used for like 13 years.
“And then I think just there, as I said, just got the tyres in the perfect window on that out lap. And once I was through Turn 1, 2 and 3, it was kind of smooth from there.”
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