Lewis Hamilton captures 6th pole at Chinese GP with record time

JUSTIN BERGMAN

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton set a new track record to capture his sixth pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday, breaking the 13-year-old mark held by Michael Schumacher by more than half a second.

Hamilton, a four-time champion in Shanghai, set a time of 1 minute, 31.678 seconds, edging rival Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari by less than two-tenths of a second.

Hamilton's teammate, Valtteri Bottas, qualified in third, while Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was fourth.

For the second race in a row, a track record fell in qualifying. Hamilton posted the fastest-ever lap at the Albert Park circuit at the Australian Grand Prix last month to take pole position.

READ MORE: How qualifying unfolded in China 

Qualifying results from the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on Saturday:

Qualifying Q3:

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:31.678

2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 1:31.864

3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1:31.865

4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:32.140

5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 1:33.033

6. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1:33.507

7. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:33.580

8. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) 1:33.706

9. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 1:33.719

10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1:34.220

Eliminated in Q2:

11. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso)

12. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)

13. Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren)

14. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber)

15. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Sauber)

Eliminated in Q1:

16. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren)

17. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas)

18. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault)

19. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)

20. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India)