The seven-time world champion, who holds the most pole positions a🏅t COTA with three, had hoped to challenge the Red Bulls and Ferraris in Saturday’s qualifying session in his upgraded Mer𝄹cedes but ended up half a second off the pace in fifth. 

However, engine-related grid penalties for 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Charles Leclerc and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Sergio Perez mean Hamilton will start Sunday’s grand prix third behind polesitter 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Carlos Sainz and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen. 

• Qualifyi🦋ng report: Sainz on United States GP pole position ahead of Verstappen
• F1 2022 United St🌳ates Grand P🐬rix - Full Qualifying results

“It was a really, really difficult qualifying session,” admitted🍸 Hamilton. “I’d felt so optimistic all weekend, the car had been feeling good. ꧟;

“Everyone back at the factory has worked so hard to bring an upgrꦑade and I was really hopeful that we were going to be much, much closer t💧han we were. 

“But once we got to qualifying, I don’t know if it’s because the temperatures dropped, or the wind, or what, but the car was such a handful all of a sudden and not like any other time we’ve driven i❀t [here]. I was expecting a bit more.” 

Mercedes have brought their last&n🥂bsp;substantial upgrade of the season for their W13 to Austin but Hamilton believes it has not brought them any closer to Red Bull. 

“These gu🅷ys are a lot quick♛er on the straights, particularly Red Bull,” Hamilton explained. 

“I think we might be able to keep up with them through the corners bu𝕴t in pure pace they are just… No matter what upgrade we bring, the gap stays the same. 

“I don't know if they are bringing upgrades the same time we are b꧒ringing upgrades but that’s definitely really tough for everyone in the team that’s pushing really hard. 

“Still, we’ll give it everything tomorrow.” 

Mercedes can play ‘exciting games’ 

Mercedes team principal Toto Wo♏lff was more optimistic about his team's performance in qualifying. 

Wolff confirmed the updates worked as expected and is confident Mercedes can mix it up at the front with Hamilton and168澳洲5最新开奖结果: George Russell both starting from the second row.

“I thi🍨nk the update works,” he said. “We had a lap in us that was three-tenths quicker but the car is so tr𒊎icky to drive. 

“I think for tomorrow we could be part of some excitiಌng games.” 

Russell told Sky: “You always hope for more. When you go into a qualifying session you always dream and believe b♔ut obviously we have to be realistic. 

“We know that qualifying isn’t our strongest point but I think we’ll take it. It’s probably the furthest we’ve been from the m🌺idfield and the closest we’ve been to the front for quite a while, so a step forward.”