Hamilton hints at better pace

Friday 8th June 2012

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Hamilton hints at better pace

Hamilton hints at better pace

Lewis Hamilton had no complaints after his flying start to his Canadian GP weekend as Friday's pace-setter reckons he had even more in the bag.

Hamilton was the driver to beat in Friday's practices at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as he bids to become the seventh different winner this season.

The McLaren driver edged Sebastian Vettel in Practice One while later in the day he was again in the P1 slot, this time ahead of the Ferraris.

Hamilton posted a best time of 1:15.259, which put him 0.054s up on Fernando Alonso. However, the 27-year-old believes he could have gone faster.

"I was out there pushing for quite a while on the option tyre. It is very, very difficult to put all the sectors together," he told Sky Sports.

"Sometimes I would go quicker in one sector, and then would lose it in another sector.

"So I kept asking can I have one more lap, one more lap and eventually I did get a good lap, then the red flag came out, but I was already a couple of tenths up by then so that is positive for us."

There are however some concerns about the Pirelli tyres on the Montreal track surface.

A track known for going through tyres and often forcing drivers to make two if not three stops, Hamilton reckons this year's race could actually see one-stoppers. But, having said that, he also fears McLaren's degradation could be worse than their rivals'.

"Tyre degradation is going to be very tough," he added.

"Qualifying looks like it could be very close, and you have got the Ferrari's and their tyre degradation seems to be better, at least at the last race, so I will be keeping an eye out for them.

"It does look like it could be another one stop race which is very strange. My tyres did well over 30 laps there, so it will be interesting."

Related Links
Prac Two: Hamilton remains on top
Gallery: Friday's action from Montreal

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