LEW CAN’T LIVE WITH MAX PACE

Hamilton tips title rival Verstappen for an ‘easy win’

LEWIS HAMILTON fears title rival Max Verstappen will stroll to victory at the Austrian Grand Prix today.

Hamilton cut a frustrated figure after Red Bull racer Verstappen stormed to pole for the second weekend in succession at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring.

And if that was not bad enough for Hamilton, he will start down in fourth behind Sergio Perez and Brit Lando Norris.

Hamilton – fresh from signing a new two-year deal with Mercedes yesterday – does not see any prospect of victory.

Asked if the win was out of reach, a downbeat Hamilton said: “I would say so yes, in terms of pure pace it’s definitely out of the question.

“Red Bull have improved their car again.

“I would say that it is an easy cruise win for Max.

“We definitely can’t take it to the Red Bulls. They are just too fast. My race is with the two guys ahead of me, trying to get past them.” Hamilton heads into the ninth of a scheduled 23 rounds trailing Verstappen by 18 points and faces seeing the Dutchman extend his lead. He added: “It’s even more of a challenge than it was already last week, and we continue to lack pace.” Verstappen (above) was disappointed with his own performance in the final part of qualifying but still had more than enough to keep clear of everyone else.

He said: “Hopefully we can finish it off. It is never straightforward.”

Norris was on course to snatch pole from Verstappen for much of his final lap until the Mclaren’s lack of downforce compared to the Red Bull meant he dropped back.

Norris, who starts from the front row for the first time in his career, said: “I feel epic. It’s nice, it puts us in a good position.

“I’m a bit gutted I didn’t get pole.”