Charles Leclerc claimed pole position for Ferrari in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix with a track record lap on Saturday as Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton was hit with a three-place grid penalty, demoting the world champion from the first to the third row.

Leclerc had secured his second career pole following his maiden pole in Bahrain in March. The 21-year-old Monegasque clocked his best lap of one minute and 3.003 seconds in the final seconds of a dramatic session that saw his Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel unable to run due to an air pressure problem.

"The car felt amazing," said a delighted Leclerc.

"I struggled in P1, but after some changes we did well and I'm happy to bring pole home."

"Tomorrow, we have to finish the job," he added.

"I changed a little bit my approach from Paul Ricard (last week) and I really felt I did a step forward," said Leclerc. "Austria is also my favorite track, so it might fit a little bit better my driving style. I could feel it in the car, so I'm happy with this."

Leclerc will now have Red Bull's Max Verstappen, also aged 21, alongside him.

The two young tyros will start ahead of a second row made up of Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas and British rookie Lando Norris, aged 19, of McLaren.

Hamilton's penalty

Hamilton was due to share the front row with Leclerc but the stewards found the Mercedes driver guilty of impeding Kimi Raikkonen of Alfa Romeo.

The British racer was caught out during a slower lap in the session when he said he was unaware of Raikkonen approaching him on a flying lap.

He attempted to drive out of the way by going off track, but his actions were viewed as insufficient by the stewards.

"Totally deserved the penalty today and have no problem accepting it," Hamilton wrote on Instagram. "It was a mistake in my behalf and I take full responsibility for it."

Hamilton's grid penalty has reduced his chances of extending Mercedes record season-opening run of eight successive triumphs, which might give Ferrari a great opportunity to land their first win in 12 races since last year's U.S. Grand –- won, ironically, by Raikkonen.

'Darkest hour'

The Spielberg circuit was the scene of Mercedes' "darkest hour" in 2018, according to team chief Toto Wolff, recalling that they failed to score a point as both drivers failed to finish.

"Of course I'll be pushing for the win tomorrow," Hamilton said. "Ultimately that is always the goal but it is not going to be easy to get close and pass the Ferraris as they have been very, very fast all weekend. Of course I'll give it absolutely everything."