Bahrain GP: Lewis Hamilton Scorches To Pole In Bahrain With Record-Breaking Lap | Formula 1 News

Newly-crowned seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix with an impeccable record-breaking lap on Saturday as Mercedes dominated the floodlit qualifying session. The 35-year-old Briton clocked an all-time track record lap in one minute and 27.264 seconds to outpace his ‘black arrows’ team-mate Valtteri Bottas by 0.289 seconds, the pair delivering Mercedes’ 11th front row lockout of the season. It was Hamilton’s record-increasing 98th career pole position and the fluency and speed of his driving endorsed his status as the outstanding man to beat at Sakhir’s Bahrain International Circuit.
With two races to go, Hamilton could reach a remarkable total of 100 pole positions at the final race while he is also seeking to increase his total of wins from 10 to a record-equalling 13 triumphs.
Max Verstappen was third ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Alex Albon, who on Saturday made a remarkable recovery in a car built with a new chassis overnight following his heavy crash in second practice on Friday.
Sergio Perez fifth for Racing Point ahead of the Renault pair of Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon with Pierre Gasly eighth for Alpha Tauri.

