Hamilton: Australia pole lap was one of my best

Lewis Hamilton says that the lap he put in to claim pole position for the Australian Grand Prix was one of his best. The Briton secured his 73rd career pole at Albert Park on Saturday, kicking off his 2018 campaign in style.

His lap was sixth-tenths clear of Kimi Raikkonen, who will share the front row for the start of Sunday's race. Hamilton admits that his pole lap was very tricky to pull together, but believes that it was one of the best of his career.

"It was tricky," the 33-year-old acknowledged. "That last lap for me was definitely the best of this weekend and I’m very, very happy with that lap.  It was one my best. With the results we’ve had, you would think it’s the norm, but it’s just as intense. My heart is racing.

"I’m always driving for perfection and that was as close as I could get. I was focused on hooking up tyres and getting right temperature and then getting the lap together.”

Hamilton also said in the post-session press conference that he did not use any different engine mode: "I can assure you we don’t have a party mode,” he said. “I used the same mode from Q2 to end of Q3. There were no extra mode I engaged in.”

While Hamilton got the better of them in qualifying, Ferrari is hoping to disrupt Mercedes' party tomorrow and fight for the win. However, if that is the case, Hamilton says that he is not concerned about the challenge of keeping them behind.

"It’s not like I’ve not been there before, fighting two Ferraris in my career," he said. "It is always tough having two red cars or one red car in your mirrors. They are a great team, but we are the best prepared we can be. I’m excited."

Fergal Walsh