Hamilton concedes Bottas 'just too quick' in Silverstone F1 qualifying

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas simply did a better job than him in qualifying for the 70th Anniversary Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Bottas edged out Hamilton for pole position by just 0.063s as Mercedes secured a 67th front-row lock-out. 

Reflecting on his performance in qualifying, Hamilton was happy with the balance of his Mercedes but conceded Bottas was 'a bit too quick'.

“It [the car balance] was good, was good,” Hamilton said. “Valtteri did a fantastic job today - he was just a bit too quick for me. The first lap I think in qualifying was very decent and the last one wasn’t spectacular. Ultimately he did a better job. I am happy for the team to have a 1-2 and to see another great result for Racing Point.”

Typically, the soft tyre is the fastest tyre over one lap but Mercedes decided to do its final runs on the more durable medium.

Hamilton had no regrets about the decision to run the medium at the end of Q3, as he and Bottas believed it was the fastest tyre over one lap

“We decided as a team. Valtteri and I agreed that the medium tyre was better so that’s why we saved it for the end.“

The reigning world champion dismissed suggestions that he hasn't found improvements in performance since last weekend's British Grand Prix, also at Silverstone - where he claimed pole position by nearly 0.4s ahead of Bottas. 

“At the end of the day we’re drivers - we go out and continue to push, Hamilton added. “I was in the sim too, although we weren’t really working on this race. I improved over this weekend also.

“Valtteri just did a better job at the end. I don’t feel any way about it. We’ve still got a long race tomorrow. I will do everything I can to beat this guy.”