US Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton starts on pole as he chases fifth world Formule One title
Lewis Hamilton completed one half of the job to secure a historic fifth World Championship by putting his Mercedes on pole position for the US Grand Prix.
Hamilton will seal the title in Austin, Texas on Sunday if he takes the chequered flag and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel fails to finish second.
The German was slower only than Hamilton in a nail-biting qualifying session, but he will be demoted to fifth after incurring a grid penalty for his failure to slow sufficiently under red flags in Friday's practice.
Kimi Raikkonen will subsequently join Hamilton on the front row with the Briton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas third.
🏁🇬🇧 Lewis Hamilton will start tonight's #USGP on pole as he bids for a FIFTH Grand Prix victory in a row and a TENTH of the season!
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) October 21, 2018
🏆 He could also seal his FIFTH world title with three rounds, moving him level with Juan Manuel Fangio and just two behind Michael Schumacher! pic.twitter.com/Q5n5YHQC8F
Mercedes did not appear to have the pace to beat Ferrari following the early phases at a cold and blustery Circuit of the Americas.
But as he so often does, Hamilton saved his very best for last, edging out Vettel by just 0.061 seconds for the 81st pole of his career.
Scroll down for more qualifying results & reaction
How Hamilton can win the title in Texas
Lewis Hamilton moved 67 points clear of Sebastian Vettel in the Formula One Championship with just four rounds remaining following his win in Japan on Sunday.
The British driver will now clinch his fifth world title at the next round in Austin on October 21, Texas...
- If he wins and Sebastian Vettel is third or lower.
- If he is second and Vettel is fifth or lower.
- If he is third and Vettel is seventh or lower.
- If he is fourth and Vettel is eighth or lower.
- If he is fifth and Vettel is ninth or lower.
- If he is sixth and Vettel is 10th or lower.
If Hamilton is seventh or lower, the championship will continue to Mexico (October 28). The other Grand Prix are in Brazil (November 11) and Abu Dhabi (November 25).
"That was very important, and that was close," Hamilton said. "I knew it was edgy between us and it was going to require solid laps.
"The second lap was better and it enabled me to pull it out of the bag. I was very adamant that I was going to do a better second lap so I am very happy with that."
Vettel, who swore over the radio in frustration after discovering he had lost to Hamilton, added: "It was a bit of a shame that we missed out by that little time.
"Given the last couple of weeks we have had I am happy we are in range."
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION: Job done for Hamilton as he edges ever closer to a fifth world title #USGP 🇺🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/lVwY6NUkNd
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 20, 2018
Max Verstappen damaged his Red Bull on the kerbs at the exit of Turn 15 in the first qualifying session and played no further part.
His rear suspension was broken and the Dutchman's crew were unable to complete the repairs before the start of Q2.
That was good news for Daniel Ricciardo, who has been out-performed by Verstappen in all of the 11 qualifying rounds since the Monaco Grand Prix. The Australian will start fourth following Vettel's penalty.
But there was bad news again for McLaren with both of their drivers falling at the first hurdle.
The Woking team will be desperate for the season to end and so, too, will Fernando Alonso as his wonderful career fizzles out with a whimper.
The two-time world champion, who has just four races remaining before he retires at the end of the year, qualified 16th with his team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne slowest of all.
They will both rise two places, though, due to engine-change penalties dropping Toro Rosso pair Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley to the back of the grid.
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