Lewis Hamilton gunning for a fight with Verstappen in Styrian Grand Prix

Hamilton, Perez, Mercedes, Red Bull, Styria — Photo: © LAT Images

Styrian Grand Prix

Hamilton gunning for a fight with Verstappen in Styrian Grand Prix

Hamilton set the third fastest time in qualifying but will start from the front row

Sam Hall

Saturday 26 June 2021 16:35

Lewis Hamilton is steeling himself for "a fight" with Max Verstappen in the Styrian Grand Prix after being out-qualified by the Red Bull driver.

Hamilton set the third-fastest time in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring with an effort 0.226secs slower than Verstappen's one minute 03.841s pole time.

The Mercedes driver is promoted to the front row, however, by virtue of a grid penalty handed to team-mate Valtteri Bottas after the Finn dangerously spun in the pit lane, and is eager to again do battle with Verstappen.

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"Firstly, well done to Max," said Hamilton. "They've been so fast this weekend so we've been giving it absolutely everything and it just wasn't the greatest of sessions but nonetheless we're still on the front row, obviously after the penalty.

"I gave it everything I could and we go into a race tomorrow for a fight."

Red Bull on top all weekend

Hamilton set the fastest time in final practice on Saturday morning and but for a track limits violation, he would have also topped second practice on Friday.

Despite this, he maintained Red Bull has held a clear advantage from the start of the weekend.

"They've generally had a quarter of a second on us all weekend and I think we have managed to edge closer in qualifying," he added.

"In race trim yesterday they were 0.25s ahead of us most of the time so it will be interesting to see whether or not we can manage it.

"I don't think we have the raw pace to overtake them but we might be able to keep up."

Noting the wet weather forecast to hit on Sunday, Hamilton commented: "I'm going to be giving it everything obviously but I'm just talking about pure pace. Maybe tomorrow we will be surprised. Maybe it will rain. Who knows?"