Ferrari qualifying fantastic result - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton is yet to finish on the podium for Ferrari, although he did win the sprint race in China

Austrian Grand Prix

Venue: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg Date: 29 June Race start: 14:00 BST

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live; live text updates on BBC Sport website and app

Lewis Hamilton said Ferraris second and fourth places on the grid at the Austrian Grand Prix were a "fantastic result".

Hamilton qualified fourth with team-mate Charles Leclerc second at the Red Bull Ring.

It matched their best result in a grand prix qualifying session this season, which was in Monaco.

It came after Ferrari introduced a new floor, their first car upgrade since the Bahrain race in April.

"The team have worked hard back in the factory to bring us a new floor this weekend," Hamilton said.

"For us to be much closer and be on the second row, and for Charles who is on the front row, I think thats really fantastic."

Hamilton, who was just 0.09 seconds slower than Leclerc, said he believed he could have qualified second had he optimised his final lap.

The seven-time champion said: "My last lap wasnt perfect, I think that could have been, if I had finished that, would have been second.

"So theres lots of positives to take out from that session. Also I think it has been the best day, operationally, particularly through qualifying, how the team operated, just timings, the information we are getting in terms of traffic and positionings on track, it was the best, it was proper world class. That is what we are working towards."

Ferraris improved performance comes in the wake of criticism in the Italian media in recent weeks - two influential newspapers wrote articles questioning Frederic Vasseurs position as team principal.

Hamilton appeared to be referencing this when he said: "Ultimately, we continue to work together, protect each other, block out all the noise and just keep our heads down.

"Its an incredible team. Were working, and Im working with Fred, were working to put all the pieces of the puzzle in the right place, step by step.

"It cant be done in one go. Just got to keep working at it. Im really happy with the progress we are making."

Leclerc said: "Very happy to be second. Its been a very difficult season for us qualifying-wise.

"Weve always been fighting for P5, P6 in best cases, apart from Monaco. That was a one-off. So, its good to be starting a little bit further up, and to be straight away with the fast guys, straight from the start."

Leclerc said the first signs from the new floor were positive but that it would take time to be sure of its influence.

"It definitely helped us," he said. "I felt like there were some steps forward. How much, we need to see it in different characteristics of tracks.

"Its not only on this track that weve got to judge that, but over multiple tracks.

"However, the numbers that we expected, we had them, which is a good start. That means that we are working in the right direction."