SUZUKA, Japan -- Lewis Hamilton revealed he had to make some big set-up changes ahead of qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix after trying to take a different approach for most of the weekend.
Nico Rosberg beat Hamilton to the fastest time in qualifying by just 0.013s in the closest battle for pole position this season. Although Hamilton was pleased with his lap, he said he had to deal with some big changes to his car ahead of the session after pursuing the wrong set-up for most of the weekend.
"This weekend has not generally been that easy, not that they are ever easy, but not was strong as the last race," he said. "I was veering off a certain way in the set up and had to shuffle back going into qualifying so I was in no-man's land coming into qualifying, the fact I managed to pull it back to that kind of gap I am happy with it really. I was making progress and I made the best job I could"
Hamilton believes he got everything he could out of the car given the late set-up changes.
"It's been a weekend of a lot of work, getting the car set up right and some big changes going into qualifying, so considering that to be that close I was really happy with it. I got everything I could out of it, I did as well as I could, I think.
"Naturally if you have more laps you can find more time but generally very happy with that. History has shown you don't have to be on pole to get the win but Nico did a great job and has done all weekend.
"Tomorrow my engine has one less race than Nico's, so his is at the last race. Hopefully mine is strong throughout."