Mercedes' British racer 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.

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 seconds, outpacing Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.346 seconds.

Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was third ahead of Pierre Gasly of Red Bull.

"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."

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."

Luckless Vettel

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 Monegasque will start 10th, 10 places ahead of his luckless Ferrari teammate 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.

After sitting in his car, stranded under repair in the Ferrari garage, Vettel climbed out and condemned to start from the back of the grid.

"I don't know exactly what happened, but we lost the turbo and the car would not run. I feel bitter, of course, as the car is great and it's a big chance lost – but we have another chance tomorrow."

Mick Schumacher thrills crowd in his father's Ferrari

Mick Schumacher completed an emotional three-lap demonstration run in his father Michael's championship-winning Ferrari F2004 car on Saturday before qualifying at the German Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old son of the seven-time world champion said it felt like "torture" as he waited to emerge from the pit-lane in front of a big crowd at the Hockenheim circuit.

Now as an F2 driver, Schumacher wore a helmet that paid tribute to his father's career as he drove the car that carried his father to 13 victories and the drivers' title in 2004.

Schumacher senior won four times at the German track, boosting the popularity of the sport to new heights in his homeland.

He has not been seen in public since he suffered head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013.

"It was amazing to be able to drive the car around here especially knowing it was my dad's seat and everything fit perfectly," said the youngster, who also drove his father's 1994 Benetton around Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps track in 2017.

"To be able to drive the V10 (engine) and feel how that one behaved and sounded was obviously something very special," added the junior.

"I just wanted to go out and I just wanted to drive," he said. "Obviously, having to wait, even in front of the pit exit, was more like torture."

"I never lost a smile. It was always on my face. Even when I was locking up, I was smiling! It was really cool."

(With input from AFP and Reuters)