Qualifying in heavy US Grand Prix rain like playing with a rattlesnake, says Lewis Hamilton
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton compared the treacherous conditions to “playing with a rattlesnake” after heavy rain washed out qualifying at the US Grand Prix on Saturday.
The Briton, who was fastest in a slippery final practice session for Mercedes, will have to wait until Sunday morning to try and secure a 50th career pole before aiming to clinch his third title with three races to spare.
It’s difficult to explain how tricky it is out there, difficult for people to understand. I’m imagining it as a rattlesnake, trying to touch a rattlesnake or seeing how close you can get your hand to it
After five half-hour delays at the Circuit of the Americas, and the rain and wind only intensifying, organisers gave up the struggle to hold qualifying and set a new time of 9am (local time) on race day.
“It’s a real shame for all these people here in the rain but you just can’t mess with Mother Nature,” Hamilton said.
“It’s difficult to explain how tricky it is out there, difficult for people to understand,” he said. “I’m imagining it as a rattlesnake, trying to touch a rattlesnake or seeing how close you can get your hand to it.”
Race director Charlie Whiting said if qualifying could not start by 10am local time, it would not happen and the times from final practice would set the starting grid.
