Hamilton apologises to Mercedes: I'm incredibly disappointed in myself

Lewis Hamilton has apologised to his Mercedes team after crashing out of qualifying for Saturday's F1 Sprint at Austria's Red Bull Ring.

Up until his accident, Hamilton had been going strongly, having set the third-fastest time in Q2, but lost the back end of his W13 coming out of Turn 7 in the top 10 shootout and ended up in the barriers.

"It was a big hit but I am OK," said Hamilton.

"I am incredibly disappointed in myself, and so sorry to the team who worked so hard to put this car together, and I never like to bring it back damaged.

"We were fighting for top three, I think, and I don't have an answer for it.

"I lost the back end into Turn 7 and that was that."

With Hamilton’s teammate George Russell also spinning off into the barriers just a few minutes later, the Mercedes mechanics will have a busy evening ahead of them to get both cars ready to race in Saturday's F1 Sprint.

Hamilton encouraged by Mercedes pace

Despite his mishap, Hamilton said he was pleased to see how competitive Mercedes had been up until that point in the session.

"I am encouraged for sure, I am encouraged of course to see our performance," added Hamilton.

"We weren't expecting for it to be as close as that today.

"That is a huge positive from the team, but I am really quite far back so I don't know what is possible from there.

"But we have a Sprint race as well, so hopefully I can make up for some lost time."