Hamilton: Car’s the star for rival Vettel

LEWIS HAMILTON admits he will have to beat a “phenomenal car” as Sebastian Vettel completed a hat-trick of pole positions.

Hamilton (above) was full of praise for his rival’s Ferrari as he powered his Mercedes to second on the grid for today’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

It was still his best start position since pole in the Australian season-opener, with Ferrari sweeping the front row at the last two.

“They were quickest all weekend and they obviously have a phenomenal car this year. But I’m really happy with what the team did to get us from where we were yesterday to today,” said Hamilton.

“We are in the mix. I will try to give Sebastian a hard time tomorrow.” Vettel, nine points ahead of Mercedes’ reigning champion, will be hoping to convert his third pole in a row into a third victory in four races.

The German was comfortably quicker than Hamilton, with a fastest lap of 1 minute 41.498 seconds, against the Briton’s 1:41.677 around the street circuit on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas was third fastest for Mercedes with Australian Daniel Ricciardo, winner in Baku last year and in China two weekends ago, qualifying fourth for Red Bull on an overcast and gusty evening.

“It will be an intense race. Anything can happen here and safety cars are likely,” said Vettel, who had struggled to break into the top 10 on the timesheets on Friday but led yesterday’s final session.

“The good point is that our car was really good this afternoon so it should be in a good place tomorrow,” added the four-time world champion.

“Yesterday I struggled a bit with confidence and trust in the car and rhythm but today, when it clicks, it just keeps coming.”

Red Bull’s 20-year-old Dutchman Max Verstappen will start fifth alongside Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, who had looked like he could join Vettel on the front row but made a big mistake on his last lap.

Force India pair Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez will line up together on the fourth row.