Hamilton takes 100th career pole position in Barcelona

For the 100th time in his illustrious career, Lewis Hamilton will take the start of a Grand Prix of Formula 1 from pole position. A mind-blowing number, even magical. But as his boss rightly pointed out Toto wolff in Portimão (Portugal) last weekend, the seven-time world champion made exceptional his own standard. 

As is often the case this season, the fight for pole position came down to a close call. Everything was decided during the first attempts in Q3, with Hamilton snatching provisional pole by 36 thousandths ahead Max Verstappen (Red Bull), and 0”132 ahead of his teammate Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes). 

None of the members of the leading trio were able to improve their mark during the last flying laps, unlike Charles Leclerc behind them. The Monegasque from Ferrari emerges at the end of Q3 to snatch 4th position on the grid, whileEsteban Ocon signs another big performance aboard his Alpine. The Norman will start 5th on Sunday, ahead Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), which confirms the good performance of the Team this week-end. 

In difficulty during the last Grands Prix, Daniel Ricciardo reacts well by getting ahead of his fast teammate Lando Norris the Mclaren are 7th and 9th in the ranking. Small disappointment for Sergio Pérez, who spun during his first flying lap in Q3, then had to settle for 8th time. Fernando Alonso completes the Top 10 by ensuring a double presence ofAlpine in the first half of the ranking. 

Despite their aerodynamic developments, both Aston Martin remain at the dock in Q2. Lance stroll signs the 11th time and will be the 1st to have a free choice of tires on Sunday at the start. His teammate Sebastian Vettel must settle for 13th time. Slight worse for Pierre Gasly, only 12th while the FrenchmanAlpha Tauri was in 5th position at the end of Q1. He misses Q3 for the first time this season. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) places the 14th mark, ahead of George Russell, who escapes from Q1 for the first time in his young career with Williams. 

The surprise elimination from Q1 is named Yuki tsunoda. The Japanese rookie from AlphaTauri was surprised in the final moments of the opening phase of qualifying and had to settle for 16th time. Tsunoda, who sharply criticized his team after the session, is accompanied in the cart by the Alfa Romeo of Kimi Räikkönen, who is increasingly suffering from the comparison with Giovinazzi. 

We then find the regulars at the back of the grid, namely the Haas de Mick Schumacher et Nikita mazepin. Mention to the champion F2 in title who manages to beat a Williams, even if it is only that of Nicholas latifi, rarely to its advantage on Saturday. 

On Saturday, the pure 100 Lewis Hamilton has made it his domain since his first career pole, won at the 2007 Canadian GP. Not being clumsy on Sunday either, the current leader of the Drivers classification will logically be favorite of this Grand Spanish Prize where the pole sitter has statistically a better chance of winning than in Monaco.