Q: Was pole position even more satisfying after what happened to Lewis?

NR: No, it didn’t add anything to my satisfaction - but yes, I am very happy to start from pole! And happy that my direct opponent is a bit further back because that is going to make it easier for me in the race. Or not easier - that’s the wrong word because trying to win a race is never easy and the opposition is still pretty tough with Ricciardo and the Ferraris - and of course from Lewis starting from P10. He has shown lately that coming from the back is what he can do really well, so I expect him to do just this in the race.

Q: Nico, can you understand why your ‘direct opponent’ [Hamilton] would not do a track walk or not do more than eight laps in the simulator to prepare for a new circuit?

NR: First of all: I didn’t know that he hasn’t done a track walk and that he’s only done a few laps in the simulator. Everybody has their own approach - and obviously this approach works for him. He is a three-time world champion so he must be doing something right! So who is qualified to criticise his approach. My approach is different - so what do you make out of that?