• German Grand Prix - Qualifying

Qualifying is proof of McLaren's struggle - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton reflects on a difficult session © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• German Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Lewis Hamilton

• Teams:
• McLaren

Lewis Hamilton said his sixth place qualifying performance at the German Grand Prix simply confirmed that he is driving the third fastest car on the grid.

Hamilton and McLaren lead the drivers' and constructors' championships and the Briton has taken four consecutive podiums since the Turkish Grand Prix. However, he said that qualifying at Hockenheim, which saw Jenson Button and Hamilton end up fifth and sixth on the grid, was in fact a true reflection of the current order in Formula One.

"It's what I've been telling you for a long, long time and no one believed it: We are the third team at the moment and just not fast enough. But we keep pushing and we do the best job we can."

He admitted that he had not got the best from the car this weekend after missing most of Friday practice due to a heavy crash in the morning session.

"No. I never expect to be sixth, for sure, but I've been saying for a long time that generally we are the third fastest team and today the two teams in front did a better job," he added. "And my lap wasn't fantastic, but that's the way it is. My qualifying pace was quite poor, to be honest. I don't think it was great, but I did the best job I could."

Hamilton said he is now pinning his hopes on making up as many places as possible off the start.

"I'm going to keep pushing," he said. "Tomorrow we need a good start, a clean first lap, and I'll try to score many points tomorrow."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.