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Portimão (AP) - David Bowie's guitar didn't obey Lewis Hamilton like his racing car.
"Forgive all the mistakes, I'm really not good," wrote the Formula 1 world champion on the video of his solo on the black instrument that the British pop legend had once given him.
In the days leading up to the third race of the season in Portugal, the championship leader was looking for some distraction from the close title duel with challenger Max Verstappen.
But Hamilton usually only achieves true perfection in his Mercedes.
On Sunday he could drive his company car to pole position at a Grand Prix for the 100th time.
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This mark would be another milestone for record collector Hamilton.
The icons Michael Schumacher, who took first place on the grid 68 times, and Ayrton Senna (65) have long left the Briton far behind.
This hunt at the absolute limit for the perfect lap, the fight between man and machine against the clock in a short time frame - that is Hamilton's realm.
“Hammertime” is what it means, it is almost something like the champion's own art form.
Sir Lewis, who is not far from big words and believing in God, often describes these moments as an extraterrestrial experience, as a step over the limit of what is supposedly possible.
“Under the helmet lies the complex battlefield of the mind.
Fragile, hostile, peaceful, loving and passionate, ”said the 36-year-old recently when he was the fastest in qualifying for the 99th time in Imola.
"I tell myself: I am only a vessel for light and love, I can be anything, I am brave, I am strong, I have immeasurable strength," Hamilton told his millions of fans on social networks and called to them: "You can overcome anything with your mind."
Of course, it also helped that the seven-time world champion mostly sat in a superior car in recent years.
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Apparently it's different this season. Red Bull and Verstappen were at eye level in Bahrain and Imola, the path to the eighth world title could be quite difficult for Hamilton. At the start, the world champion squeezed into victory, in Italy he saved second place with a lot of luck despite a rare mistake. "To continue to lead both world championship rankings after this race almost feels like a free ticket because our opponents did not get the maximum out of the chance we offered them," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
Verstappen, who is only one point behind Hamilton in the overall standings, has already recognized a "different way of thinking" in his strengthened team.
«We have really learned a lot over the years.
I'm really looking forward to what's ahead of us, ”said the 23-year-old Dutchman before the race on Sunday (4:00 p.m. / Sky).
If Verstappen wants to leave the superstar Hamilton behind in the generational duel in the long run, he should start with the start place hunt on Saturday.
"Imola wasn't perfect yet, we have to keep improving," he warned.
The Red Bull driver was only allowed to park at the front four times before a Grand Prix.
For a World Cup triumph over qualifying champion Hamilton, Verstappen also has to defeat him where he is strongest.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210429-99-400592 / 2
Wolff statements before the Portugal race
Info about the race
Information from the world association
Guitar video by Hamilton
Tweet Hamilton after the Imola qualification