Lewis Hamilton extended his own record for having the most pole positions at different circuits by taking top spot at Formula 1’s Portuguese Grand Prix.
Hamilton prevailed in a close fight with Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas by just 0.102s at the Algarve Circuit in Portugal.
It is the first time that the venue, also known as Portimao, has held a World Championship round.
It means that Hamilton has now taken pole position at 29 of the 32 venues that he has competed at in Formula 1.
He has only missed out at France’s Magny Cours, India’s Buddh and Turkey’s Istanbul Park.
Of Hamilton’s 97 poles, itself a record in Formula 1, he has taken most – eight – at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit.
Hamilton has also excelled at the Hungaroring, Monza and Silverstone, taking seven pole positions at each of those circuits.
Hamilton has never competed at Imola in Formula 1 – the venue for next weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – and has not taken a pole position at Turkey’s Istanbul Park, which will hold the following round in mid-November.
Current Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel is next on the list having taken pole position at 23 different venues.
