Cape Town - Lewis Hamilton claimed his seventh successive pole position when posting the quickest time in his Mercedes in qualifying on Saturday for the Italian Grand Prix.
Hamilton's 11th pole from the 12 races this season came at the expense of the two Ferraris driven by Kimi Raikkonen, the Finn's first front row start since China in 2013, and Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg, who trails the world champion by 28 points, could manage only fourth.
The last driver to notch up seven poles in a row was Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari in 2000-01.
Italian Formula One Grand Prix qualifying times at Monza on Saturday:
Qualifying N.3
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:23.397, 2. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:23.631, 3. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:23.685, 4. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:23.703, 5. Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams 1:23.940, 6. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1:24.127, 7. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:24.626, 8. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 1:25.054, 9. Nico Hlkenberg (GER) Force India 1:25.317, 10. Marcus Ericsson (SWE) Sauber 1:26.214
Qualifying N.2
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:23.383 (Q), 2. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:23.577 (Q), 3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:23.757 (Q), 4. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:23.864 (Q), 5. Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams 1:23.983 (Q), 6. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1:24.313 (Q), 7. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:24.379 (Q), 8. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 1:24.448 (Q), 9. Marcus Ericsson (SWE) Sauber 1:24.457 (Q), 10. Nico Hlkenberg (GER) Force India 1:24.510 (Q)
Did not qualify
11. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Lotus 1:24.525, 12. Felipe Nasr (BRA) Sauber 1:24.898, 13. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Toro Rosso 1:25.618, 14. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Red Bull 1:25.796, 15. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull
Qualifying N.1
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:24.251 (Q), 2. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:24.609 (Q), 3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:24.662 (Q), 4. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:24.801 (Q), 5. Nico Hlkenberg (GER) Force India 1:24.937 (Q), 6. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1:24.979 (Q), 7. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:24.989 (Q), 8. Felipe Nasr (BRA) Sauber 1:25.121 (Q), 9. Marcus Ericsson (SWE) Sauber 1:25.122 (Q), 10. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 1:25.144 (Q), 11. Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams 1:25.184 (Q), 12. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Toro Rosso 1:25.410 (Q), 13. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Lotus 1:25.429 (Q), 14. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull 1:25.633 (Q), 15. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Red Bull 1:25.742 (Q), 16. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1:26.058 (Q)
Did not qualify
17. Fernando Alonso (ESP) McLaren 1:26.154, 18. Will Stevens (GBR) Marussia 1:27.731, 19. Roberto Merhi (ESP) Marussia 1:27.912, 20. Max Verstappen (NED) Toro Rosso