World champion looking for a new approach in Monaco as he chases victory; Hamilton seven tenths quicker than Rosberg before rain
Thursday 21 May 2015 18:42, UK
Thursday pacesetter Lewis Hamilton says there is still more to come as he looks for a new way to win in Monaco.
The world champion has never had a pole position in Monte Carlo and has been beaten by Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to victory in each of the last two years.
“I’ve been analysing where I’ve been over the last years here and coming to the understanding that I’ve not been perfect,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.
“I’ve been fast, but not perfect, I’ve never had a pole position, I’ve won once [in 2008], but that was from third position so a little bit of luck came into it. So I am thinking ‘how do I get the best weekend, how do I get the perfect weekend, how do I do better?’ Because ultimately I’ve had the car to do it over the last two years and I haven’t. So I am trying to figure out a new solution in order to get the result.”
Hamilton’s new approach seemed to pay off in practice as he topped both of Thursday’s sessions, while Rosberg toiled in ninth in the opening action.
“Here is really about getting on the pace as quickly as you can,” Hamilton said.
“You are finding time with every lap you get and then being very specific with the set-up changes that you make. You don’t make too many unless you are unlucky and the car balance is off, but generally now with simulations it is not the case.
“Sometimes it does happen, but today the balance was not far off and we have just been tweaking it here and there to try to gain a bit of performance. The first session was really good and then this one was really good.
“I’m generally happy with the balance, but there are still things I can improve upon balance wise, but also on the track.”
Despite his troubles, Rosberg wasn’t too concerned as he targets Saturday’s all-important qualifying session.
“It just wasn’t the perfect day today, particularly because of the weather and no one really foresaw the rain coming otherwise everyone would have put on the supersoft tyres immediately in P2,” the German said, who wound up 0.7s back on the sister Mercedes.
“But it just came as a complete surprise and it caught everyone out. But the good thing from today is that our car is definitely very quick.
“I have to build up to it through Thursday, Saturday and then nail it in qualifying.”
The rain meant only Pastor Maldonado ventured out on the supersoft tyres on Thursday, but the Lotus driver will have learnt little as he limped through the rain. Rosberg, though, doesn’t think the missed running will be a blow to the team as he is confident the tyres can last at least a third of a race distance.
“We are pretty confident that it will because it did last year and nothing is different,” he said. “It is more about just getting down to it and doing a great qualifying lap.”
Don’t miss Sky Sports F1’s exclusively live coverage of the 2015 Monaco GP. The race begins at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway from 11.30am. No Sky Sports? No problem! Watch the Monaco GP for £6.99 with NOW TV
