Refuelling problem compromises Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton was also hampered by a puncture during Q2© Getty Images

Enlarge

Lewis Hamilton revealed that a refuelling problem prevented him from carrying out a second run in qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix.

Hamilton had set the second fastest time when all of the cars returned to the pits to refuel and change tyres before a final attempt, but never left the garage again. Mark Webber and Jenson Button then both improved to knock him down to fourth, and Hamilton said it was an inability to get fuel in the car that cost him, but that he was still optimistic for the race.

"It was quite an eventful one," Hamilton told the BBC. "Nevertheless it was still quite good, we were competitive. We came in, tried to refuel the car and we had a refuelling problem. So we were running out of time, bit by bit, and we just couldn't get enough fuel in the car so we were too late to get going and unfortunately we weren't able to get our second run. But these kind of things happen and the team did the best job they did, and we're not in a bad position... I think we probably could have been on the front row, I think we had a bit more time in the bag which was good, so that's positive for tomorrow."

When asked about having to muscle his way past Felipe Massa on his outlap, Hamilton shrugged off the incident and said it didn't affect his lap.

"The guys always try to back you up and I was ready to get going so I was trying to get past and he was blocking and blocking and blocking, and eventually I got past. My lap was pretty good but I got held up by Fernando (Alonso); I was about a second behind Fernando at the end so I lost a little bit in my second sector. The pace is good and I feel good for tomorrow."

ESPNF1