Mercedes driver holds off strong challenge from Ferrari's Sebastian to vroom to his fourth successive pole at Bahrain
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton celebrates after claiming pole position in Bahrain on Saturday
Manama: Lewis Hamilton made it pole position for the fourth time in a row for the first time in his Formula One career with a storming performance in the desert in Bahrain.
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton celebrates after claiming pole position in Bahrain on Saturday
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Hamilton was quickest in all three qualifying sessions, with no-one holding a candle to the reigning champion under the lights of the Bahrain International Circuit. With a stunning lap of one minute 32.571secs in his Mercedes, Hamilton finished four tenths of a second clear of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, with Nico Rosberg a further 0.147secs adrift.
It is now 15 consecutive poles for Mercedes — nine behind the record of 24 set by Williams. It was also Hamilton's first pole in Bahrain, and on this form the win will follow as the 30-year-old was sensational when it mattered most. Kimi Raikkonen, who has struggled in qualifying this season, will line up fourth — more worthy of the car beneath him. Williams duo Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa, as expected, will occupy the third row in fifth and sixth positions respectively.
Hulkenberg eighth
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo lines up seventh and Nico Hulkenberg eighth, the German impressively claiming Force India's first top-10 grid slot of the season given their struggles with a car that will not be updated until June. Carlos Sainz Jr starts ninth in his Toro Rosso, with Romain Grojsean 10th for Lotus.
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in action on Saturday at the Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit. Pic/Getty Images
Force India's Sergio Perez will line up 11th, followed by Sauber duo Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson, McLaren's Fernando Alonso and 17-year-old Max Verstappen in his Toro Rosso. For McLaren, given the woes they have endured this season with the arrival of Honda as power-unit supplier, it was the first time this year they have managed to get a car into Q2.
While that was the positive for the team to enjoy, the negative was the sight of team-mate Jenson Button retiring his car minutes into the session. After a wretched Friday of practice in which Button stopped on track in both sessions, the 35-year-old suffered a hat-trick of failures.
On his out lap in Q1 and after just three corners, Button ground to a halt again, pulling off track to the frustration of watching team boss Ron Dennis, who flapped his arms against his sides.
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