Lewis Hamilton admits he's struggling as Charles Leclerc takes Spanish GP pole

British driver down in sixth, and beaten again by teammate George Russell

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes could only make sixth place on the grid for the Spanish Grand Prix. EPA

Lewis Hamilton admitted he is struggling with his Mercedes and should not be losing to teammate George Russell.

As Charles Leclerc bounced back from a spin to see off championship rival Max Verstappen and claim pole position for Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton qualified sixth. Russell finished two places ahead in fourth.

Hamilton and Russell are three apiece in qualifying this season, but the younger Mercedes man has beaten Hamilton in four of the five grands prix staged so far.

Hamilton is 23 points behind his teammate, and 68 points adrift of championship leader Leclerc.

The Silver Arrows have brought a number of upgrades to Barcelona’s scorching Circuit de Catalunya – including a revised floor and new front wing – and the early signs are encouraging for the team which has won the last eight constructors’ championships.

Mercedes were a second back in Miami, but Russell finished six tenths slower than Leclerc here with Hamilton seven tenths adrift.

Hamilton has already written off his chances of an eighth title this season, but do Mercedes’ improvements provide him with hope he could yet find himself in the championship mix?

“I am not really putting my mind to that because I am still way off,” said the 37-year-old.

“My teammate is fourth so that means I should be at least third or fourth, and I am sixth. I am still struggling with the car and qualifying wasn’t great for me.

Charles Leclerc (C) of Ferrari celebrates the pole position with his teammate Carlos Sainz (R), third and Max Verstappen of Red Bull, second. EPA

“I don’t know how to get around that. I don’t know what I am going to do, but I will just continue to work hard and try to figure it out.”

Hamilton has so often reigned in Spain, taking four of the last five poles as well as six overall wins – a record he shares with Michael Schumacher – but he has played second fiddle to Russell this weekend.

Russell lucked-in with safety cars at the races in Melbourne and Miami to finish ahead of Hamilton.

But the 24-year-old, in his first season alongside the seven-time world champion, is proving to be an able match, and then some.

Is he over-delivering by getting the better of the sport’s most decorated star?

“No not really,” said Russell. “I just focus on myself and try to do the best job possible and where that leaves me I’ll review from there.

“But obviously I believe in myself, I’ve still got a lot to improve. I don’t feel like I’m truly optimising the package and compared to Lewis I’ve definitely got room to improve in a number of aspects.

“I guess it gives me excitement to see what I can deliver a little bit later on in the season.”