Reigning double World Champion Lewis Hamilton has secured pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, edging out Championship leader and team-mate Nico Rosberg.
But the Brit had to answer questions on a potential 12 month sabbatical, at the post qualifying session press conference. Hamilton reacted with amazement to media speculation that the triple Formula One world champion might take a sabbatical in 2017.
"A year out? No way," the Mercedes driver said with incredulity when asked at the Spanish Grand Prix about reports in the British and German media.
"Whoever wrote that was smoking something. Probably good stuff," added the Briton, speaking moments after qualifying on pole position.
Hamilton is currently 43 points behind German team mate Nico Rosberg after four of the 21 races, Rosberg has won the last seven races and could become only the
third driver to start a season with five successive victories, he starts on the front row next to Hamilton on Sunday morning (NZ time).
Max Verstappen qualified fourth in his first race as a Red Bull driver, edged out by team-mate Daniel Riccardo.
Meanwhile Ferrari disappointed with Kimi Raikkonen finishing in fifth and Sebastian Vettel sixth, both more than a second slower than Hamilton.
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