Hamilton facing 'impossible' Monza recovery

Lewis Hamilton has lamented a tough Italian Grand Prix qualifying session for Mercedes after only managing to set the eighth-fastest time.

The seven-time World Champion's best lap was half a second off the best time set by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, leaving him starting behind Alex Albon's Williams and McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

Hamilton had struggled in Friday's practice sessions but had seemed to turn a corner in Saturday morning's final hour of preparation, only to take a step backwards in qualifying.

When asked by media including RacingNews365.com where he lost time on his lap, Hamilton explained: "I lost it all [time] in the last sector.

"I was up in the first and the second [sectors], but I was just struggling with the car."

Hamilton elaborated when speaking to Sky Sports F1, adding: "It started off actually in FP1, run one was the best the car's felt and then it's kind of fallen off since then.

Hamilton: Williams to be impossible to overtake

Hamilton elaborated when speaking to Sky Sports F1, adding: "It started off actually in FP1, run one was the best the car's felt and then it's kind of fallen off since then.

"What's impressive is to see how quick the Williams is, to be leapfrogged by the Williams and the McLaren.

"It's not easy, but George [Russell] did a great job so I've just got to try and progress forward somehow - the Williams will be almost impossible to overtake as they're fastest on the straights."