Lewis Hamilton picks up pace to grab pole in Canadian Grand Prix qualifying

The two-time champion recovered from two days of erratic form in practice to record the best lap in one minute and 14.393 seconds.

Lewis Hamilton was off the pace but still took the pole in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix. Andre Pichette / EPA

MONTREAL // Defending champion and series leader Lewis Hamilton bounced back to his best on Saturday to claim pole position ahead of his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg for the Canadian Grand Prix.

The two-time champion recovered from two days of erratic form in practice to produce a smooth and fast demonstration of single lap speed and a best lap in one minute and 14.393 seconds.

That lifted him 0.309 seconds clear of Rosberg with in third and fourth Finnish duo Kimi Raikkonen in a Ferrari and Valtteri Bottas of Williams.

On a day of surprises, two world champions failed to progress from Q1 – Briton Jenson Button of McLaren, who suffered an engine failure in the morning, and Raikkonen’s teammate Sebastian Vettel, who suffered electronic problems and wound up in 16th place.

Two weeks on from Mercedes’ Monaco fiasco, Hamilton’s lap was nearly half a second faster than last year’s pole lap by Rosberg at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, one of the 30-year-old Briton’s favourite tracks where he is seeking a fourth win.

His pole success was his sixth in seven races this year, the 44th of his career and his fourth in Canada where he won his first Formula One race in 2007.

He needs only one more pole to level with four-time champion Vettel in the record books.

Romain Grosjean was fifth fastest for Lotus ahead of his teammate Pastor Maldonado, Nico Hulkenberg of Force India and the two Red Bulls of Russian Daniil Kvyat and Australian Daniel Ricciardo.

Mexican Sergio Perez was 10th quickest for Force India.

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