Gallery: Button on pole as F1 champ Hamilton qualifies 12th for Malaysian Grand Prix
TROUBLED F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will start tomorrow s Malaysian Grand Prix from 12th on the grid. After being accused of misleading stewards following the Australian GP, and his subsequent disqualification from the season-opening race in Melbour
TROUBLED F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will start tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix from 12th on the grid.
After being accused of misleading stewards following the Australian GP, and his subsequent disqualification from the season-opening race in Melbourne, Hamilton's woes continued in Sepang today (Saturday).
His underperforming Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was again too slow to secure the motor racer from Herts a starting spot in the top 10.
Brawn GP's Jenson Button stole pole position for the second weekend running after also winning the Australian race last Sunday.
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Following his humbling apology yesterday (Friday), Hamilton was only 13th fastest on the Malaysian track in qualifying.
He was promoted one place as a result of Sebastien Vettel's 10-place grid penalty - his punishment from the opening Melbourne race.
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"We qualified about where we expected to," said Lewis afterwards.
"We don't yet have the pace to get into Q3 but the balance doesn't feel too bad.
"We're just unable to carry enough speed through the corners."
The Tewin racer wasn't totally happy with the balance of his car going into qualifying, but was satisfied with his two option-tyre runs in the first session, setting 12th fastest time of 1 minute 35.280 seconds.
In Q2, the team ran an identical programme, carrying out two low-fuel runs on options, setting a 13th fastest time.
He will start Sunday's race from 12th after gaining a position following Vettel's grid penalty.
The reigning world champion added: "We expect to see some improvements over the next two or three races.
"For tomorrow, I'm just going to race my heart out, do the best I can and try and score some points.
