Lewis Hamilton claimed the 100th pole position of his career with a brilliant lap in qualifying for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.
Mercedes' seven-time world champion edged out the Red Bull of Max Verstappen by just 0.036 seconds at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya to reach the landmark.
Valtteri Bottas will line up in third for Mercedes ahead of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
100 POLES! I can't even begin to describe how this feels. I can't thank the team and everyone back at the factory enough for everything they've done to help us secure this incredible milestone. I feel so humbled and very grateful. This feels like my first win all over again 🙌🏾💯 pic.twitter.com/KkCgShdhq2 — Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) May 8, 2021
Five thousand and 82 days have passed since Hamilton took his first pole in only the sixth appearance of his Formula One career at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix.
Despite being a phenomenal talent, few then would have predicted quite the heights the fresh-faced 22-year-old from Stevenage would go on to reach.
This year, bidding to win an unprecedented eighth world title, his ton of poles takes him 32 clear of Michael Schumacher and 35 ahead of his boyhood hero Ayrton Senna in the all-time list.
💯 @LewisHamilton #SpanishGP 🇪🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/bmN017zvai — Formula 1 (@F1) May 8, 2021
Indeed, the numbers are staggering. Hamilton now has two more poles than the combined efforts of double world champion Jim Clark, four-time world champion Alain Prost and 1992 title winner Nigel Mansell.
"We have been strong all weekend," said Hamilton, 36.
"I cannot believe we are at 100. It is down to the men and women back at the factory who are continuing to raise the bar.
"It has been a dream to work with these guys. I am humble and I am ecstatic, like it is my first."
ONE. HUNDRED. POLES!!! 🤯🤯🤯 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/z0H330Nglf — Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 8, 2021
Verstappen, eight points behind Hamilton in the standings, said: "It was a good lap. Q3 was pretty decent but the second run was worse for whatever reason.
"Second for us is very good today. We know they are difficult to beat but being close is important. The pace is there so I hope we have a good race."
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one-third owner of Mercedes, watched the qualifying drama unfold alongside team principal Toto Wolff, and Britain's richest man provided the lucky charm for Hamilton.
Quali result #SpanishGP 🇪🇸: HAM, Max P2 💪, BOT, LEC, OCO, SAI, RIC, Checo P8, NOR, ALO. #F1 pic.twitter.com/9s1MgA9YC3 — Red Bull Racing Honda (@redbullracing) May 8, 2021
Verstappen headed into Q3 as the favourite to secure top spot before Hamilton powered his way around the 16 corners and 2.9 miles of Circuit de Catalunya asphalt to steal the glory.
Hamilton is unbeaten on Spanish soil since he collided with rival Nico Rosberg at the fourth turn of the opening lap in 2016.
Verstappen went on to win in his maiden appearance for Red Bull, but pole is key in Barcelona with 22 of the last 30 winners starting from the front slot on the grid.
Final result from Qualifying sees Daniel in P7 and Lando in P9. Bring on tomorrow. 👊#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/6AEwTu51Xb — McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 8, 2021
Behind the top three, Ferrari's encouraging signs of improvement saw Leclerc finish fourth, with Carlos Sainz sixth in the other scarlet car.
Esteban Ocon qualified fifth for Alpine, with McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo seventh and Sergio Perez eighth, one second slower than Red Bull team-mate Verstappen.
Lando Norris is third in the standings after a strong start to the season and the British driver will start ninth on Sunday.
