Hamilton takes 69th F1 pole at soaking Monza and says he's "very proud" to surpass Michael Schumacher's record
Saturday 30 September 2017 09:08, UK
Lewis Hamilton says surpassing Michael Schumacher's all-time F1 pole record at the Italian GP is "proof dreams come true".
The Mercedes driver claimed the 69th pole of his career to become the seventh driver to hold the record outright since the World Championship began in 1950.
"It will take a while to sink in," Hamilton said. "I wish l was better with words and l had something iconic to say.
"Growing up, watching the sport, witnessing greatness in other individuals, such as Michael, dreaming of doing what he was doing. We are proof that dreams come true.
"I am very proud. It's crazy."
Hamilton's 69th pole came in his 201st Grand Prix and surpassed Schumacher's mark which had stood for 11 years.
"It's an honour and a privilege to be in the sport, growing up I couldn't have even fathomed all the things I would eventually achieve. But what l did consistently believe in was my ability and what l could do if l just put my mind to it," Hamilton added.
His pole lap of 1:35.554 was 1.148 seconds better than the next best time set by Red Bull's Max Verstappen and 2.2 seconds quicker than team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
That was the biggest pole margin of Hamilton's career, while he also became the first driver to claim six pole positions at the Italian GP.
"I can't believe it was 1.1 seconds faster than everyone else," Hamilton told Sky Sports News. "It was awesome."
Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda said: "Lewis' lap was unbelievable.
"It is not hard when you are a driver like Lewis. He can put everything together and do a fantastic lap."
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff added: "It was a brilliant lap, after a session where he was the quickest man throughout, and it was undoubtedly a performance worthy of claiming the all-time pole position record."
