Lewis Hamilton completed a record-breaking ‘double top’ in Friday’s practice for this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, leading his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas in both sessions.
AFP
The 32-year-old Briton, who clinched his fourth world championship in Mexico two weeks ago, dominated the day and showed no signs of easing off - or any reaction to the controversy about his alleged tax avoidance.
Hamilton and Bottas were fastest in the morning’s opening session and followed up with repeat performance in the afternoon, Hamilton clocking a best lap in one minute and 9.515 seconds to outpace his team-mate by 0.048 seconds.
“There are still two races to go,” said Hamilton.
“I am still in the same mental frame of mind that there are still races to be ticked off and it wouldn’t feel normal to back off now".
Hamilton’s earlier quickest lap in the morning was in 1:09.202, a clear margin faster than the qualifying lap record of 1:09.822 set in 2004 by Rubens Barrichello of Ferrari.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo was third for Red Bull, his car also running a clutch of new items, ahead of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, Mexico victor Max Verstappen in the second Red Bull and Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari.
Vettel admitted he and Ferrari had been outpaced in practice.
“Mercedes look very strong,” he said. “Both of them are a bit ahead of us, but I think it is very close between us and Red Bull".
Esteban Ocon was seventh for Force India ahead of retirement-bound local hero Felipe Massa, in his final home race with Williams, Nico Hulkenberg of Renault and two-time champion Fernando Alonso of McLaren Honda.
