Lewis Hamilton emerges quickest to take pole at Italian Grand Prix and break Michael Schumacher's record of 68 pole positions.
ADVERTISEMENTLewis Hamilton has beaten Michael Schumacher’s 68 pole position record at Monza in appalling weather conditions.
Youngsters Lance Stroll of Williams and Force India’s Esteban Ocon will now line up in second and third, respectively.
The rookies are hotly tipped to head up the next generation of F1 drivers and they didn’t disappoint at the Italian Grand Prix.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was over a second slower than Hamilton, but despite placing second, engine penalties pushed him to the back of the grid.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel starts sixth, denting his championship title hopes and leaving the door open for Hamilton to close the gap.
Qualifying was stopped after the first lap due to the weather and there was a two-hour lull before the restart.
Although he was always among the front bunch, Hamilton was tested by the Red Bull cars of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo but produced the superlative wet driving skills he is renowned for to emerge fastest by 1.148 seconds.
Still sevens points behind Vettel overall, Hamilton is now perfectly placed to consolidate and overhaul the Ferrari driver.