Wolff keeps watch on Hamilton threat: 'If Lewis is ahead after the start, that's going to be a tough one for everyone'

After strong weekends in Monaco and Montreal, the seven-time world champion continued his positive run in Barcelona. Despite struggling throughout the free practice sessions, Hamilton produced an excellent qualifying performance to secure a valuable front-row start for Sunday's race, missing out on pole position by less than a tenth of a second.

Speaking to Sky Sports after qualifying, Wolff praised Hamilton's performance and admitted he had never shared the doubts some people had raised about the seven-time world champion's speed. The Mercedes team principal stressed that when Hamilton is comfortable with the car and operating in the right environment, he remains one of the most formidable drivers on the grid.

Looking ahead to Sunday's race, he identified tyre management as a key factor but also highlighted the importance of the start, warning that Hamilton could become extremely difficult to beat if he manages to take the lead in the opening stages.

Speaking after qualifying, Hamilton admitted the weekend had been a difficult one, with Ferrari struggling to match Mercedes' pace throughout the practice sessions. The seven-time world champion revealed he had often found himself several tenths - and at times more than a second - off the benchmark, while also battling a lack of confidence and balance in the car.

However, changes made between FP3 and qualifying transformed the feeling of the SF-26, allowing Hamilton to immediately attack from the opening phase of the session. After topping Q1, the Briton felt he finally had a car capable of fighting near the front, even if traffic complicated parts of his qualifying run.

Hamilton was particularly encouraged by Ferrari's progress relative to Mercedes. Having expected a gap of around four tenths despite the team's latest upgrades, he viewed finishing less than a tenth away from pole position as a strong indication that the development package had delivered the desired gains. The result also left him confident that Ferrari has a genuine opportunity to challenge at the front in Sunday's race.