• Australian Grand Prix - Qualifying
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Hamilton predicts a tough race

ESPNF1 Staff
March 17, 2012 « Lotus threaten to appeal qualifying result over Mercedes device | 'I tried my best but it wasn't quite enough' - Button »
Lewis Hamilton will start the first race of the season from pole © Getty Images
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Lewis Hamilton is expecting a tough fight at Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, despite McLaren locking out the front row in qualifying.

Hamilton was just over a tenth faster than team-mate Jenson Button but nearly 0.4s clear of Romain Grosjean's Lotus in third. Despite the impressive display of pace, Hamilton is not expecting an easy time on race day and expects tyre management to play a major role.

"I think it's going to be incredibly tough and very intense through the race," he said. "I think looking after the tyres is going to be key, as it always is, and getting off to a good start. We'll have to see what the strategies are like and safety cars, we'll be keeping an eye out for all of those. The team need to be on point and so do me and Jenson, so we'll make sure we do that."

He said the qualifying result represented McLaren's determination to get back on top after finishing second to Red Bull over the last two years.

"It's an incredible feeling to be back here and get off to such a good start. I think this is mine and Jenson's first one-two in qualifying so it's fantastic to start the season this way and I'm massively proud of the team, working incredibly hard, as every year they do. But just to see that they never give up, this is the result of that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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