Lewis Hamilton took aim at Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel’s run of five consecutive pole positions Friday after topping practice for the Korean Grand Prix.
In cold, wet conditions at Yeongam, Hamilton shrugged off a poor run of form with a best time of one minute and 50.828 seconds to outpace McLaren team-mate Jenson Button by 0.104 seconds. Vettel, 24, who last week was crowned Formula One’s youngest ever back-to-back champion, was third fastest in his Red Bull car, ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso in fourth. Hamilton finished fifth last week in Suzuka, underlining a difficult few months in which he is winless since July.
But the 2008 champion said Vettel would be in his sights during qualifying on Saturday, where the German will be aiming for his 13th pole position in 16 grands prix this season. “It would be great to get him here tomorrow. Again, on a Friday we don’t know what they are doing so today doesn’t mean anything. But I think we are quick. I think our car was good,” Hamilton said. “Jenson showed in the last race that we can be very, very competitive, so I have no doubt that we will be out to challenge them.
“Whether or not we can outdo them in qualifying, which has not been done all year, will be interesting.” The McLaren pair were 1.7 seconds clear of the rest in a daunting demonstration of their potential in the difficult conditions. Vettel, who can help Red Bull seal the constructors’ title this weekend, admitted he was concerned over possible tyre-wear problems as he seeks his 10th win of the season.