Hamilton: This is such a monumental result for us

Mercedes either unloaded some large sandbags or found a magic switch in time qualifying in Baku today, which the reigning World Champion put to good use as he tends to do in the times he faces real adversity.

Teammate Valtteri Bottas was also denied a final hot lap and ended the day 10th fastest.

Hamilton reflected on his afternoon in Baku: "The lap was OK and we definitely weren't expecting that. This is such a monumental result for us, we've been struggling like you wouldn't believe.

"We continued to have discussions in the background and were challenging each other, not taking 'no' for an answer and it has been so difficult.

"The work overnight and between the sessions was amazing from the team and I'm really proud of everyone for keeping positive. To be so close to these guys is a great, great start.

"It has been crazy trying to switch these tyres on and it's the biggest challenge we've had for a long time. The car has not been happy so for us to be here and Valtteri in the top 10 is down to great teamwork.

"Our race pace is a lot better than our one-lap pace - we don't understand why - and hopefully we can take the fight to these guys tomorrow," added Hamilton.

Bottas was perplexed by the AWOL in Mercedes performance: "My pace has been suffering all weekend and I feel like ultimately, something is wrong because I'm on the limit but so far off the pace - if I push harder, I'm in the wall."

While Bottas was able to assist Hamilton with a slipstream for the Briton's best lap, Bottas' never got the vital tow as he explained: "We alternate and this weekend was Lewis' choice to decide who goes first out the garage so obviously in the first run on Q3 he had my tow and in the second run I tried to get tow from Charles but there was the red flag which stopped my flying lap.

"Tomorrow will be a challenge but I know anything can happen in this race - I've been here before one lap down and finished back at the front. So you never know and for sure, we'll keep trying and I'll just try to understand everything I can tonight and fight tomorrow," added the Finn who won the 2019 race in Baku.

After five rounds Hamilton trails Red Bull's Max Verstappen in the championship standings by four points, while Mercedes are a point shy of Red Bull in the constructors' title race. (Additional reporting Agnes Carlier)