Hamilton dedicates Monaco GP pole to friend and mentor Lauda

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Exhilarated at the Monaco Grand Prix after clinching a record-extending 85th pole position in fine style, Lewis Hamilton was also quick to dedicate his latest success to friend and mentor Niki Lauda.

Hamilton beat Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas on the last lap of qualifying on Saturday.

Lauda, who died on May 20, played a key role in getting Hamilton to join Mercedes in 2013 after he left McLaren.

Niki Lauda of Austria holds his Laureus Lifetime Achievement trophy at the award ceremony in Berlin, Germany, April 19, 2016. /VCG Photo

"All these years, he has been my partner in all my negotiations and in pushing for improvements on the car. He was such a racer," Hamilton said. "I have great memories and he'll live on in all our memories."

Lauda's phone call to Hamilton in late 2012, when Hamilton sat by his swimming pool at home in Monaco, proved both decisive and fruitful. Since joining Mercedes, the British driver has won four world titles to add to his first with McLaren in 2008.

"He was part of the process of changing my life. If I hadn't had that call, I'd be a one-time world champion and (now) I sit here a five-time world champion," Hamilton said. "I definitely feel like I owe him a lot."

Lewis Hamilton (L) hugs Niki Lauda after the Mercedes' British driver won the F1 Grand Prix in Austin, U.S., October 22, 2017. /VCG Photo

Lauda, a three-time F1 champion, died at the age of 70 less than one year after a lung transplant.

"I was in touch with Niki a lot through these past eight months. We were sending videos back and forth to each other," Hamilton said, pausing to collect his thoughts. "It was always difficult as some days he looked good, he was perky and saying 'I'm coming back, I'm feeling strong,' and other days, he had lost a lot of weight. It was tough."

There will be a special ceremony held in Lauda's honor later in Monaco.

A Renault driver uses a car sticker in memory of Niki Lauda during the F1 Grand Prix practice session in Monaco, May 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

Bottas, who wore a black armband on his left sleeve in memory of Lauda, thought he should have beaten Hamilton after clinching pole in the past three races.

"I'm really disappointed, I had the speed today," Bottas said.

Max Verstappen underlined his consistent season by qualifying in third place for Red Bull, ahead of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.

The mood in the Ferrari camp is likely to be despondent.

Ferrari's German driver Sebastian Vettel wears a helmet in tribute to Niki Lauda during the F1 Grand Prix practice session in Monaco, May 25, 2019. /VCG Photo

After Vettel's crash earlier in the third and final practice, the team made a glaring strategical error which resulted in teammate Charles Leclerc being eliminated from the first section of qualifying.

Leclerc hoped to be on the front row but instead starts his home race in a lowly 16th place on a street circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult.

Ferrari is clearly feeling the pressure with Mercedes finishing 1-2 in all five races this season.

Source(s): AP