Hamilton overjoyed after pole: "Bottas was faster all weekend"

Lewis Hamilton qualified on pole for the 95th time in his F1 career, his 69th as a Mercedes driver. Valtteri Bottas was faster all weekend, but the Brit manages to outdo his teammate when it matters.

"It's been a really tough weekend if I'm being honest. This track is phenomenal. It's a really really challenging circuit, and Valtteri was quicker than me all through yesterday, this morning, and even in Q1. "I've been working so hard in the background to try and improve. The team did such a great job and I finally got the lap that I needed. I couldn't go quicker at the end, but it was job done. Valtteri did a great job pushing me, but I'm really really happy [to be on pole]," says Hamilton.

“This track is really great. You go through turns 6, 7, 8 and 9 at 270 kilometres per hour. The amount of G-forces that will be put on you is insane. In turns 1 and 10 I had to improve myself and I succeeded. Valtteri really pushed me, but I am very happy that I succeeded," the world champion concludes.