'I'll take it' - Lewis Hamilton satisfied with P5 at Austrian GP but eyes Mercedes improvement on Sprint Saturday

Lewis Hamilton is eyeing an improved performance in Sprint qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix after a Friday session described by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff as “underwhelming.” Seven-time world champion Hamilton will line up fifth on the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix, behind Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris. Ad His team-mate George Russell suffered elimination in Q2 and will start in 11th, but Hamilton hopes that Saturday’s Sprint qualifying and race will see improvements from the Mercedes pair. Austrian Grand PrixVerstappen takes Austrian GP pole ahead of Leclerc and Sainz18 HOURS AGO «It's not P1 but I'll take it and try and work with it,» Hamilton said.

«I think our race pace was possibly around third fastest. I think the Red Bulls and Ferraris are quickest, and maybe the Astons, so maybe we're fourth. »I'm not quite sure exactly, we were just trying to focus on getting round as quick as we could today.

“It was a very difficult session, not an easy circuit. Our car in general in the past has not really suited this circuit and it showed it again today. «We will see if we can do better in Sprint qualifying, depending on the weather and temperatures.” Hamilton sits fourth in the Drivers Championship standings this season, 93 points behind runaway leader Verstappen.

He is eyeing a third consecutive podium place in Austria, but Wolff was unimpressed with Friday’s outcome. Horner frustrated as Perez fails to 'stay in the white lines' in latest qualifying flop Verstappen 'put the lap in when it mattered' to secure Austrian GP pole Verstappen takes Austrian GP pole ahead of Leclerc and Sainz »Overall [it was] underwhelming," Wolff told Sky Sports. «We came with expectations that we would be