Korean GP: Lewis Hamilton baffled by lack of McLaren pace
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Lewis Hamilton was mystified as to why he was so far off the pace in Korean Grand Prix practice.
The McLaren driver, who was quickest in the first session, ended the day eighth fastest, 0.885 seconds behind Sebastian Vettel's pace-setting Red Bull.
Hamilton said: "We were quite quick in the first session but I don't really know what happened in the second.
"We were struggling a bit, just trying different things, and for some reason I wasn't able to get a good time."
Hamilton was 0.498secs slower than Button, who was fourth fastest behind Vettel, the German's Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.
"It was such a big difference from P1 to P2 and the car wasn't really that different. Just a small change on the rear ride-height which is nothing," he said.
"We just have to be calm and figure out which way to go. Jenson was not in a bad position so the car has some pace and we just need to extract it. I think we'll be OK."
Asked if he thought he could fight with the Red Bulls for pole position, Hamilton said: "I'm not sure. The Red Bulls seem very quick."
Button was more encouraged, especially by his pace on his race-simulation run with a high fuel load, when he was faster than the Red Bull and only marginally slower than Alonso and his Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa.
Button said: "We have made good progress. Still not quick enough but I think we're going in the right direction.
"Red Bull have that 0.4secs again in practice. They are going to be very difficult to beat in qualifying. They seem to have that strength back.
"Our race pace seemed to be competitive but over one lap we are still lacking so it's an area we need to work on.
"But the direction we have gone with the car is positive so there is still more to come."
Alonso heads into the weekend with a narrow four-point lead in the championship following his failure to finish last Sunday in Japan, where Vettel won.
The Ferraris looked competitive on race fuel and Red Bull's closest challengers on outright one-lap pace, but Alonso said he was not sure where he stood.
"It's hard to say where we are compared to the others because we focused mainly on ourselves," the Spaniard said.
"We must wait until tomorrow to have a more precise picture of the situation."
Vettel said he was content with his team's progress.
"All in all we can be quite happy,' he said. "It looks extremely tight. We have to improve ourselves to match the others."
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Why on earth should Mclaren mess up in the latter stages of Lewis's services to them? - They would surely take points for Lewis because points for Lewis means points for Mclaren and points mean money and much else as well.
many of us on here have been aware of the blatant bbc bias against hamilton for since 2009. I have been watching F1 since the late eighties and this is the worst commentary team, the bbc has put together since that time. I'm glad Jake 'the snake' Humphries is going and very much hope Eddie 'Numbnut' Jordan follows close behind.
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Could not have put it better. Agree Damon & Johnny are a credit to the sport for their unbiased approach.
The whole underhanded sneaky way that the BBC in all aspects of its coverage is carefully conducting the anti Hamilton pro Button campaign is one of the most two faced things I've ever seen.
The BBC always try to find the most unhappy, negative, down trodden or miserable image of Lewis to use.
The other thing is any report about LH always seems to try and make out that he's got real problems and it's the end of the world.
The hatred for Hamilton runs deep in the BBC.
If all things remain equal I'd say no because as LH has said McLaren are going to have a good car next year and you can bet that McLaren will be 100% motivated not to make any mistakes as an "up-yours" back at LH for leaving.
Yup he looked like he wanted to cry lol.
As for benson and the bb f1 Jenson no grip groupies,notice how they haven't even put the after quali interview with Jenson lol.
Jenson was gutted on Sky lol.
Asked what he could do from p11 he pulled a angry face and said "go forward" and then walked away.
I'm looking forward to Perez whooping Jenson at the start P11-P12
If this evidence does not convince the critics I only hope I am not in the dock if they are selected for jury service
What were you saying LOL,were you talking about Button.If Lewis car is slower than Buttons then i feel sorry for Jenson no grip lol.
Best way to leave Mclaren is give your judas team mate a whooping.
I guess Benson and the BBC F1 Jenson groupies are not happy with quali lol.
His continual outpouring of negativity towards everything he reports involving Lewis is a constant theme that not even you can miss.
Lmao' So then why is it drivers like Damon hill,Jacques Villeneuve,Nigel Mansell who have all won the WDC in so called Superior cars "tarnished" for such things, Yet LH is the best thing since sliced bread' even tho he has only won one WDC "in a Superior car" Dont forget that part you so called F1 know it all's.
he has done nothing to warrent all this "he is the best".
My consistent question upon observation of all of these "incompetencies" is they seem always weighted on Lewis' MP4-27 and NOT JB's. Then whenever, we intelligently ask why? Thats when all the JB supporters or indeed, LH haters, immediately label me as a conspiracist!!
To ask is Intelligence - 2Accuse is ignorance.