Formula 1

LCH PUTS HIS MERCEDES ON POLE! WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?

LCH Took his 99th pole position ahead of Perez and Verstappen

“Today has been great,” said Hamilton. “I did not expect to be ahead of the two Red Bulls because they have been so quick this weekend.

“I love it, I love the challenge. It is great that finally we have got the two Red Bulls there. I am so happy. The first lap was really nice, really clean.”

MAX: “Not so good in Q3 – a bit messy, not a good lap. Still, P3 is a good starting position.

“It was not so good in Q3. I went off in turn three so it was a bit messy and not a good lap. But you cannot be good every time.”

Japanese rookie lost control of his AlphaTauri on the exit of the Variante Alta, sliding backwards and into the tyre wall.

Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, three tenths adrift of Hamilton, while the Briton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas was only eighth in the other Mercedes.

And after Hamilton drew on all his experience to keep Verstappen at bay to win a thrilling season opener in Bahrain three weeks ago, the Red Bull man will be seeking revenge on Sunday.

On an encouraging afternoon for Williams both George Russell and Nicholas Latifi progressed to the second phase.

The British team have been on a downward curve for a number of years, but now, under new management and new ownership, are showing tentative signs of improvement.

Russell finished 12th, ahead of Latifi in 14th. The Williams drivers will be surrounded by two world champions, with Sebastian Vettel only 13th for Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso 15th in his Alpine. Both men were upstaged by their junior team-mates Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll, ninth and 10th respectively.