Lewis Hamilton secured a gift-wrapped record-extending 87th pole position of his career on Saturday when he made the most of a double disaster for Ferrari in qualifying at the German Grand Prix.
AFP
The defending five-time world champion, who had struggled for pace and consistency in his Mercedes in practice, improved to clock a best lap in one minute and 11.767 and outpace Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.346 seconds.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas was third ahead of Pierre Gasly in the second Red Bull while Charles Leclerc, who had been fastest for Ferrari in final practice, failed to run in the Q3 top-10 shootout due to a fuel systems problem with his car.
The Moneqasque will start 10th, 10 places ahead of his luckless Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel who was unable to take part in qualifying due to a turbo problem and will start at the back of the grid for his home race.
Kimi Raikkonen was fifth for Alfa Romeo ahead of Romain Grosjean of Haas, Carlos Sainz of McLaren, Sergio Perez of Racing Point and Nico Hulkenberg of Renault.
“Congratulations Lewis – you never stop amazing us,” said Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff as the Briton drove his slow-down lap.
“Thanks, Toto,” he replied. “A great job guys – I don't know how we did that.”
Hamilton’s lap was the only one in the 1:11’s all weekend at the Hockenheimring, where he last took pole in 2008, and gave his team a perfect cause for celebration on the anniversary of 125 years of motorsport and their 200th Formula One race start.
”My first lap was spot-on and the second lap was better in places," said Hamilton.
Verstappen said: "We could have been closer, but went a bit wide and bottomed out and I lost the rear end, but this is a good result."
Bottas said: "I think the weather is going to play a big part tomorrow. I’m a bit disappointed, especially with the pace in Q3. Ferrari had been very quick here… so we’re in a good place.”
