Hamilton takes record 69th pole at Monza

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Lewis Hamilton broke Michael Schumacher's record of all-time pole positions by securing his 69th with a devastating lap in the final seconds of Saturday's rain-hit qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix.

The 32-year-old Briton steered his Mercedes through treacherous conditions to deliver a best lap in one minute and 35.554 seconds on full wet tires.

Hamilton, who equaled Michael Schumacher’s all-time record last weekend in Belgium, was more than a second quicker than closest rival Max Verstappen.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in action. /Reuters Photo

“It’s great to break this record at such a historic circuit and in such a beautiful country,” Hamilton, who is seven points behind leader Vettel and can take the overall lead on Sunday, told the crowd.

“I am going to have some pasta tonight to celebrate.”

The much-delayed session was one of the longest on record, ending with late drama some three and half hours after it started.

Dutch teenager Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo both have grid penalties after power unit and gearbox changes and will drop down towards the back of the grid for Sunday’s race.

That will lift Vettel from eighth to sixth, but behind Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen, while Canadian rookie teenager Lance Stroll was promoted to a stunning front-row slot for Williams.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters