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Related Tags: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes GP, Mercedes F1, F1, australian grand prix qualifying, RainLewis Hamilton, Mercedes GP, Mercedes F1, F1, australian grand prix qualifying, Rain
Lewis Hamilton laughs off Q1 crash as he slams Australian Grand Prix organisers for slapping slippery black paint over white road markings
As the rain-hit Australian Grand Prix qualifying was postponed until Sunday, Lewis Hamilton has slammed it as 'dangerous'.He, along with several other drivers, was critical of the special regulation black paint which is used to cover white lines on the Albert Park track – blaming it for several avoidable crashes.
Picture: Sahara Force India .Despite being approved by Formula One's governing body, the FIA, the paint used to cover the road markings – being a street track and used normally as a public road – is said to be more adhesive for F1 cars.
Lewis Hamilton and former Super Aguri F1 driver Anthony Davidson are insistent that it has caused several crashes, including those of Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Sauber's highly acclaimed Mexican rookie Esteban Gutierrez.
Mercedes"It was incredibly tricky out there," Hamilton said. "It was one of the slippiest circuits I have ever raced on. There were a lot of white lines painted black. As soon as you hit them, the car slides, aquaplanes and oversteers.
"And that is why so many people were going off the track."
Despite his comments, he supported the decision by stewards to suspend Q2 and Q3 until Sunday morning.
The five new drivers found it difficult to adapt to the extreme conditions as they battled rain, nerves and the desire to impress.
The track was drenched in rain. Sahara Force India ."It was definitely the right decision. It was dangerous out there and this track is incredibly dangerous with the black paint they have which is covering the old existing white paint.
"It makes it like driving on ice through those parts. Everyone was struggling and everyone was going off."
Hamilton did not blame the black paint for his own accident and admitted it was his own mistake. "I lost the back end and was in the wall," he said. "Beached, I managed to put it in reverse. You've got to laugh at those things and keep going forward."
Fellow Briton Paul di Resta in the rain-drenched Australian Grand Prix qualifying. Sahara Force India .But his teammate Nico Rosberg is putting pressure on Lewis Hamilton, having set the fastest pace in Q1. Can Lewis Hamilton make it through to Q3 and stick himself on the front row? We shall discover that tomorrow morning.
"At least I didn't take any wheels off," Hamilton laughed.
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