Lewis Hamilton looking to improve qualifying performance in Spain

After four fly-away races to start the season, Formula One is back in its European heartland over the next few days, starting with the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

Just 20 points separate the top seven drivers, with Hamilton sandwiched in the middle in fourth place, 11 points behind McLaren team-mate Jenson Button.

That is despite the fact Hamilton has arguably been the driver of the season so far, executing a remarkable 32 overtaking manoeuvres in comparison to Button's seven.

Yet it is Button who has twice taken the chequered flag as his mix of smooth driving and making the right decisions at the ideal time have worked in his favour.

Hamilton knows he should be much closer to Button in the drivers' standings, but his one-lap performances have so far proved his undoing.

Fourth on the grid was respectable enough in the season-opener in Bahrain, but in Australia he wound up 11th.

In Malaysia a bad call as the rain played havoc saw him start in a lowly 20th, and then just over two weeks ago in China, he was set for pole after a dominant Q1 and Q2, but only managed sixth after falling by the wayside in Q3.

On a track where there have been a miserable two overtakes in three of the last five races, Hamilton is aware he has to make it count in qualifying on Saturday.

"As we did in China, we'll be putting additional emphasis on qualifying," said Hamilton.

"It will be more important than ever in Barcelona as traditionally it's always been a track where overtaking is very difficult.

"Given that most cars will only be stopping once, we have less scope for passing, so a good grid position will be vital."