Hamilton Puts In Record Lap To Take Bahrain Pole

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.