Hamilton was fourth in the first session and only seventh in the second, but he did enough to learn that the Mercedes package is much stronger than it was in 2016, when the team endured a nightmare weekend.

"I don't think it's any more difficult for us than others, but the window in which we had our car set last year just didn't seem to work," said Hamilton.

"This year it feels completely different, the car feels like it's working the tyres and everything. I'm hoping that we are going to continue to improve and be in the fight for the front row and for the win this weekend.

"It's much better than it was last year. Last year we were sliding around a lot and it felt like we had no grip. Today we had grip.

"Sunday is always a big challenge, but definitely tomorrow I'll be in a position to fight for the front row."

Nevertheless it was a scrappy session for Hamilton, who didn't get a representative lap in.

"One run I didn't get my lap on my ultra soft, I didn't get the first lap, I didn't get the second lap, I didn't get the third lap. On my behalf that can be frustrating when you try and try and try. It's character building. Otherwise the car was generally good.

"We had a small issue with a hydraulic plug of some sort. It lost a little bit of time, but it's not the worst thing.

"You lose a little bit of time, and naturally I would have liked to use that time. But these things happen, as long as it happens on a day like today, and not tomorrow or something.

"Honestly I feel optimistic, I feel really good at this track, a couple of laps I did before, I was feeling really strong.

"It's a street circuit and generally these are the ones I go really well on. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."