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Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg focus on Austrian GP qualifying

Mercedes poised to complete a year of pole positions at Red Bull Ring

Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg
Image: Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have both targeted an improved performance in qualifying for the Austrian GP this year as Mercedes close in on a full calendar year of pole positions.

The Silver Arrows were last beaten on an F1 Saturday a year ago at last June’s Austrian GP when Williams’ Felipe Massa claimed pole ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

As a consequence of an uncharacteristically ragged performance that day, Hamilton was demoted to ninth on the grid after spinning off with his first flying lap wiped out by the stewards after he transgressed the circuit's limits. Despite a spirited fightback, the Englishman was then forced to play second fiddle to the victorious Rosberg on race day.

For his part, Rosberg’s determination to raise his game this Saturday is motivated by the belief that last week’s Canadian GP was won and lost in qualifying at Montreal, when Hamilton beat him to pole by three tenths of a second.

“Canada was really lost for me on the Saturday,” said Rosberg. “Not getting everything together in qualifying hurt my chances big time - but I had the pace and that's a big positive to take forward and go maximum attack in Austria. My first race at this track last year couldn't have been much better.

"Of course, we didn't have the ideal start in qualifying - but we nailed it on Sunday and it was great to get the win. I'm sure we'll have some tough competition here once again with Williams and probably some others too.”

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg on the podium
Image: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg on the podium

Hamilton extended his championship lead to 17 points with victory in Montreal and, in a reversal of fortunes from 2014, has consistently held the upper hand over Rosberg in qualifying this term. The world champion also admits he has a point to make at the Red Bull Ring, a deceptively tricky circuit despite featuring just nine corners – the fewest of any venue on the current calendar.

More from Austrian Gp 2015

"It was a great feeling to finally get back on top in Canada and add to the great memories I have there. Now, though, it's time to move on and put things right at a circuit I had a tough introduction to last year – Austria. Although I struggled in qualifying, starting down in ninth, it was actually a great race fighting back through the field.

"I think I was about fourth or fifth by the end of the first lap and then just kept chipping away to claw my way back to the podium, which was really good fun. Of course, I'll be working hard to have a clearer shot at the win on Sunday.”

The Red Bull Ring is expected to favour the Mercedes W06, leaving Hamilton and Rosberg braced for another head-to-head contest for pole. Hamilton’s only qualifying defeat this term occurred in Spain when he was edged out by Rosberg with Mercedes securing a front-row lockout in five of the seven events so far. 

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