HOCKENHEIM: Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton put Mercedes on pole position for their 200th race at the German Grand Prix on Saturday after Ferrari’s hopes of seizing the top slot were dashed by engine problems.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will share the front row alongside the five-time world champion, with Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas third.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel lines up last after a turbo-related problem meant he failed to set a time while team mate Charles Leclerc was sidelined in the final phase with a fuel system issue and starts 10th.

The pole was a record-extending 87th of Hamilton’s career.

“Lewis, this is Toto. You never stop to amaze us,” team principal Toto Wolff, whose employers are also celebrating their 125th year in motorsport, told the Briton over the team radio.

Hamilton, winner of seven of the 10 races so far, leads Bottas by 39 points in the overall standings.

“I’m not really sure how we did it today, and I’m not really sure what happened to the Ferraris,” said Hamilton. “It’s such an important race for us, our second home Grand Prix, and 125 years of motor racing, so it’s incredible to celebrate in this way.”

Leclerc had been fastest in practice on Friday and Saturday and had looked a good bet for pole, with Mercedes struggling in the opening phase, before the gremlins struck.

“It’s a difficult day for the team, I hope it will be a very positive day tomorrow,” said the Monegasque. “I felt great in the car and the car felt great today and all weekend so it’s a shame it ends up like this.”

Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly qualified fourth with Kimi Raikkonen fifth for Alfa Romeo and Romain Grosjean lining up sixth for Haas.

McLaren’s Carlos Sainz qualified seventh and Sergio Perez eighth for Racing Point.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2019