Hamilton rediscovers pole form 'one step at a time'

It had seemed that Nico Rosberg was on course to dominate qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton apparently struggling to hold on to his Mercedes team mate's coat tails.

Even when it came to Q3, Hamilton was initially left struggling to fend off rivals from Red Bull and Ferrari to join Rosberg on the front row. After his first run was compromised by a heavy lock-up into turn 1, the pressure was really on.

"Nico was very strong as you could see. There was areas where I needed to pick up and that was really what I tried to do in Turn 10 but it was a little bit too much.

"When I came in I was just laughing, believe it or not, between those runs - because the lap was so good. I was just giggling thinking it was such a good lap it would have been pole.

"I’m glad I got it on the second one. While it did put a bit more pressure on the second lap I was still able to get it so I’m happy with that."

Hamilton displayed his best form of the weekend to claim pole by a big margin over Rosberg with his final hot lap his third of the season.

"I'm very, very happy," beamed Hamilton afterwards. "Getting the lap, obviously Nico has been very strong all weekend so it was crucial. Bit-by-bit, stepping stones, one step at a time I’ve been trying to bring the pace together.

"I had a problem yesterday with something on the car so it was not the easiest of days, so today has been starting from scratch and the car felt great from the get-go once that was rectified.

"We made changes to the balance but very few, just a couple of changes. Nico was very comfortable with the car so it was kind of more in line with the direction he was going, we weren't very far apart anyway. But to get out today and feel the car beneath me once again was a great relief."

Now Hamilton has to focus on converting pole to a first lap lead, something that has eluded him twice this season in Melbourne and Bahrain.

"I’m hoping for a good start. I think whatever issues we had have definitely been rectified. Ultimately with the starts I think for all of us in Formula One they’re always up and down. But the starts have been great this weekend so I don’t see why tomorrow it won’t be too.

"Hopefully everything comes together. I’ve been working on starts obviously after past races. I’m in the best position to start from so I will try to get off on the right foot and tomorrow could be a good day."