LEWIS HAMILTON blasted his way to a brilliant 65th pole position of his Formula One career to equal Ayrton Senna’s record.
The Brit punched in a sensational lap time of 1:11.791 around the Montreal circuit – the fastest ever lap around the track.
And then he went even quicker as Hamilton simply showed that he is the master of this track, with six poles.
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His performance came exactly 10 years to the day since he earned his first pole in F1 – also on the same track.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who leads the championship by 25 points, had to settle for second while Valtteri Bottas was third.
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Hamilton said: “It was a close battle. Ferrari have been quick but I was gunning, I was pushing and pushing…it was a sexy lap.
“I cannot believe it came together so well.
“The team learned from our mistakes in the last race and I owe this to the team back at the factory.”
Hamilton, who was presented with Senna’s race-worn helmet at matching his idol’s total.
He added: “I am shaking…Ayrton was the one who inspired me, so to match him and receive this is a big honour. Thank you to the Senna family.”
Meanwhile, Sauber’s Pascal Wehrlein had yet another shunt. The German made a mistake braking on the grass and lost grip and slammed into the barriers.
Wehrlein, whose car was rolled over on its side in Monaco by Jenson Button, qualified in last place while McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne and Williams's Canadian driver, Lance Stroll, also failed to impress.
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