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Lewis Hamilton claims pole ahead of Japanese Grand Prix

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton claims the 71st pole position of his career, this time for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton has earned another pole position, this time ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix which takes place on Sunday.

Hamilton holds a 34-point lead in the drivers' standings, and the British driver headed a one-two for Mercedes in Suzuka as Valtteri Bottas claimed the second-fastest time.

However, Bottas must serve a five-place grid penalty, resulting in Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel moving up to the front of the grid alongside Hamilton.

It means that Red Bull pairing Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen are promoted up to the second row, and Kimi Raikkonen and Force India's Esteban Ocon are fifth and sixth respectively.

McLaren's Fernando Alonso will start in 10th place, while British representative Jolyon Palmer is 14th in the Renault.

Full Standings

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
3. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
6. Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) (After five-place grid penalty)
8. Sergio Perez (Force India)
9. Felipe Massa (Williams)
10. Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
11. Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
12. Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
13. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
14. Jolyon Palmer (Renault)
15. Carlos Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso)
16. Romain Grosjean (Haas)
17. Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
18. Lance Stroll (Williams)
19. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
20. Pascal Wehrlein (Sauber)

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Written by
Darren Plant
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