Hamilton all out to get it right

LEWIS HAMILTON wants to end a spell of damage limitation in recent races with an improved performance in qualifying today and secure a top-five place on the grid for the Chinese Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver has found himself having to fight his way into the points in the last two grands prix having qualified 11th and 20th in Australia and Malaysia respectively.

Hamilton went on to drive superbly in both races to claim successive sixth-place finishes and consequently finds himself in touch with the leading pack in the drivers’ championship. The 2008 champion is sixth in the standings with 31 points, just eight behind leader Felipe Massa.

And, after clocking the fastest lap in practice yesterday, the 2008 champion is hoping for a trouble-free qualifying session today so that he can finally challenge at the front.

Hamilton last tasted success on the Shanghai International Circuit in his championship-winning season in 2008 which banished memories of his first taste of the track the previous year when he beached his car in the gravel.

And the 25-year-old believes the MP4-25 feels as good as the car he claimed victory in two years ago.

“I didn’t have any issues today really,” he added.

“The balance, as always at every track I go to, feels fantastic. It feels completely better than last year. It is great to have the car beneath me that I can push into certain corners and it is kind of reminiscent of the 2008 balance and hopefully that will enable us to be competitive in qualifying.”

Team-mate and reigning world champion Jenson Button was fastest in the morning session but dropped to third in the afternoon. The 30-year-old was unhappy with the balance of his car in Malaysia two weeks ago and made a 14,000-mile round trip back to the UK and spend some time in the simulator at the McLaren factory.

Button arrived in Shanghai confident the trip was worth it and yesterday was left feeling positive of his chances in qualifying today.

Sebastien Buemi provided the day’s drama as he crashed in spectacular fashion when his front upright suddenly failed as he braked on the back straight in P1, causing the wheel tethers to snap and both front tyres to pop off and leave the Toro Rosso driver sliding into the gravel trap.

He fortunately emerged unscathed but his car was not repaired in time to take part in the afternoon session, leaving him with very little circuit time ahead of qualifying.

“I am extremely disappointed that, once again, through no fault of my own, I have been unable to run for almost all of the three hours available,” he said.