Hamilton returns in style, snatches pole in Australia

VETTEL PUZZLED

MELBOURNE: Mercedes’ world champion Lewis Hamilton picked up where he left off last year to reassert his authority and snatch a record-extending eighth pole position at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Saturday.

The Briton clocked a fastest lap of one minute 20.486 to narrowly pip teammate Valtteri Bottas, with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel third, but well off the pace on 1:21.190. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was fourth and Ferrari newcomer Charles Leclerc fifth.

The 34-year-old is the pole master in Melbourne, claiming it eight times and every year since 2014, although he has only twice, in 2008 and 2015, won a race at Albert Park. He knocked out his rivals with a blistering lap at the death to claim an 84th career grid-leading time in his 230th race. “I’m shaking, it was so close out there. Coming from testing we had no idea where we would be, but the guys in the factory have been working so hard towards this weekend. Valtteri A perplexed Sebastian Vettel was left scratching his head after the promise of Ferrari’s pre-season performance was shattered by the pace of Mercedes during Australian GP qualifying. Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton claimed a record-extending eighth pole at Albert Park, edging teammate Valtteri Bottas in a Mercedes one-two. did an exceptional job, it was so close,” said Hamilton.

Hamilton, bidding for a sixth world title to move within one of Michael Schumacher’s record of seven, topped all three practice sessions before making it fourout-of-four during qualifying.

His dominance in qualifying here is unsurpassed with Ayrton Senna, on six poles, the next in line. Hamilton complained after pre-season testing in Barcelona that Ferrari was much quicker, but it appears to have been mind games with business as usual resumed this week. Third fastest Vettel was more than seven-tenths of a second slower than Hamilton, a gap similar to last year’s qualifying. “There is still a bit of margin (to improve) but certainly the gap is there, and it was a surprise. We didn’t expect it coming here but now it is that way. Obviously there is a lack somewhere, because we are too slow — but didn’t feel like it,” the four-time champion said. REUTERS