‘Stupid’ was the way Michael Schumacher described Lewis Hamilton’s tactics at the end of qualifying in Japan on Saturday. With the McLaren driver lifting off before beginning his last flying lap, both the Mercedes and Mark Webber’s Red Bull were forced to dive around the 2008 title winner as they approached the Casio Triangle.
“Luckily nobody else went out again – well, I mean Kobayashi in particular - to set another lap because I would have been shy by probably a second,” Schumacher explained to reporters after qualifying seventh, with Kamui Kobayashi and both Renaults also not setting times.
“It was a bit stupid, at the last chicane everybody was driving so slow. I saw my time and knew I had to go quicker – but I didn’t make it by a second.
“I had Webber in front; he had to slow down because Hamilton slowed down, but I don’t know what he had to slow down for. He pushed me out onto the grass (run-off area). But we are getting the maximum out of the car, so I’m happy.”
Further post-qualifying feelings from Mercedes:
Rosberg still hoping for points from back of grid
See also:
Hamilton: I could have fought for pole
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| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  S. Vettel | Red Bull | 01:30.466 | 14 |
| 2. | J. Button | McLaren | 01:30.475 | 14 |
| 3. | L. Hamilton | McLaren | 01:30.617 | 14 |
| 4. | F. Massa | Ferrari | 01:30.804 | 15 |
| 5. | F. Alonso | Ferrari | 01:30.886 | 13 |
| 6. | M. Webber | Red Bull | 01:31.156 | 14 |
| 7. | M. Schumacher | Mercedes | no time | 10 |
| 8. | B. Senna | Lotus Renault | no time | 12 |
| 9. | V. Petrov | Lotus Renault | no time | 17 |
| 10. | K. Kobayashi | Sauber | no time | 15 |
| Full results | ||||
| Michael Schumacher | |||
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| More Michael Schumacher photos | |||
| Lewis Hamilton | |||
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| More Lewis Hamilton photos | |||
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