Q and A with Lewis Hamilton

Q. Could you talk us through the qualifying session please?

Lewis Hamilton: We made the wrong call on the tyres. We went out, we came in I was weighed before I'd even finished a lap and I lost a little bit of time there when the track was a little bit drier. And then we went back out on the tyres and I couldn't keep the temperature in the tyres and also the brakes so I just slid around. That was it, there was nothing I could do about it.

Q. This is kind of a crazy grid - Felipe Massa is in sixth and Kimi Raikkonen is in front of you. What do you think the race will be like - do you have the chance to come through the traffic and to fight for better points?

LH: I hope so. It's hard to say. You don't know what the weather conditions are going to be like. If it's anything like today it's going to be difficult to see where we are going that far back. I'll just do the best job I can. We've got a strong package so we should be competitive.

Q. What would be the best thing for you tomorrow - wet, dry or intermediate?

LH: Maybe something like Spa. Start off dry so we can get round the first couple of laps then switch halfway through.

Q. What was the thinking behind the decision to choose inters rather than full wets?

LH: The circuit looked like it was either extreme wets or intermediates.

Q. Was that your call or the team's call?

LH: Mine and my engineer's call.

Q. After that you delayed for a little while then went back out on the extreme wets. You're saying you just couldn't get the temperature in the tyres?

LH: I'd already glazed my brake on the first lap I did out and I couldn't get the temperature back into them. And I couldn't keep the temperature in the tyres.

Q. Everyone else was out on the wet tyres - they hadn't stopped running and you had. Was that what wrecked it for you?

LH: Yes. You can imagine going out when it's a bit drier it's a lot easier to get temperature into the tyres and maintain the temperature. And if you keep going if it gets wet you've already got temperature in the tyres. I didn't have temperature in the tyres to start with.

Q. You didn't drive a great deal this morning, were you happy with the balance of your car?

LH: The balance was fine. But just at the end once you lose temperature in the tyres there's nothing you can do. As the rains coming more and more there's no way I can improve. I was just at a loss from my first lap. I don't think it mattered that we didn't do much running this morning. We had a good balance, I was happy with it.

Q. Was it a gamble?

LH: What I did was, absolutely.

Q. This morning you went out in the very wet on extreme wets. Did that run in any way colour your decision making in Q2 about going out on intermediates?

LH: Not really. It was just I thought there was not much standing water and by the looks of it it's going to get better. So the intermediate, if you can get heat into it, should be quicker. But as soon as we went out it chucked it down.

Q. How do you feel - it could have been worse in terms of where your nearest opponents are?

LH: I don't feel fantastic! But what can you do. We're bound to make mistakes and it was a mistake from me and my engineer. But I don't think it's too big a problem.

Q. There's a risk assessment element in this. You're 15th, so you could come through and get some points. But you are fighting for a world championship. Is your mindset to go for it and push or is it to try and come out of it with something?

LH: I haven't really thought about it. I've just come out of qualifying.

Q. How much does it complicate your task tomorrow that Kimi Raikkonen is starting just one place in front of you?

LH: It's no different.

Q. Even after the events at Spa?

LH: No.

Q. What was Q1 like for you?

LH: We were quite good.

Q. You did your time in the last two minutes?

LH: I had to get it done eventually.

Q. We're entering the final stretch of the season. It's going to be a challenge tomorrow starting where you are?

LH: I don't think it changes anything. It would be much better if we were on the front row or right at the front because we could battle for a win. It's not the end of the day - there's still the race. You don't get points for qualifying and hopefully we can have a really good race and hopefully I can score some points for the constructors' championship and for the drivers' championship.

Q. Obviously it's a pivotal stage of the world championship and although hindsight is a wonderful thing, why take a gamble like that at a time like this when everyone else is going out on extremes?

LH: Good question. I don't know what the answer is.

Q. You are looking quite relaxed even though you had a bad qualifying, is it like since the Spa decision nothing can bring you out of your aim to be successful. Is this disappointment any easier because of the Spa decision?

LH: None of those. I think over the year you get stronger and stronger, you work on your approach and you work on yourself. I'm comfortable where I am. This is probably the first time I've not made it to Q3, so I can't really complain. It's just part of the way it goes. Today is great experience so I'm not sitting here kicking myself.

It's just one of those days, I'm taking it on the chin, keep your head high and keep pushing. I've got a great car, I'm still leading the world championship and I'm the main competitor for the world championship. There is a chance for us to get points, we've got to make sure we do a solid job.