Red Bull "throwing some really good punches" - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has conceded Red Bull is "throwing some really good punches" in the quest for F1 glory after Max Verstappen swept Friday practice for the Styrian Grand Prix.

Hamilton was four-tenths of a second adrift in both sessions at the Red Bull Ring as his Dutch rival looked to stamp his authority on the weekend and with his team aiming to extend its three-race winning streak.

The seven-time champion did, however, lose his fastest lap time of the day to a track-limit violation which suggests the gap is closer than the timesheet indicated but he insisted Red Bull has the upper hand.

"I will do everything I can during the evening to make the right steps in the right direction but generally eking most of it out of the car," said Hamilton.

"I don't know if it is a four-tenths gap, we will see tomorrow. I think one of my laps got taken away and it was a lot closer so it is close.

"Particularly on the race pace, they were really strong and they are throwing some really good punches right now. We have just got to have our guards up and make sure we are ready to return."

Hamilton "worked flat out all week" to return to form

The general theme of the season has seen Red Bull dominate qualifying sessions with Mercedes clawing back the advantage on long-run pace.

Asked what his single-lap pace was like on Friday, Hamilton responded: "It wasn't feeling too bad. It is very close between the whole pack.

"The Red Bulls will definitely be really hard to beat. They have just got the edge, maybe more, we don't know what they are going to do when they turn that engine up.

"I didn't have too many big problems, happier where we got the car to. I have been working flat out all week trying to understand where I wanted to put the car and I am hopeful the hard work starts paying off soon."

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