Hamilton grabs pole at Brazilian GP

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix by eclipsing Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in the qualifying session.

The 31-year-old on Saturday clocked a best lap of one minute 10.736 seconds at Interlagos, just 0.102 seconds faster than Rosberg. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was third in 1:11.404, reports Xinhua news agency.

Next fastest was Red Bull's Max Verstappen, followed by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.

Rosberg will clinch his first drivers' championship if he wins or gains seven points or more on Hamilton in Sunday' race.

"I felt quite comfortable in qualifying as I have done all weekend. Nico has been getting quicker and quicker but I have generally had him covered," said Hamilton, who has never won in Brazil.

"This is the best I could have hoped for coming here. I think it is only my second pole here."

Rosberg, whose championship lead has been whittled down by victories in the past two races to Hamilton, said he was confident going into Sunday.

"It was an exciting qualifying, very close," the 31-year-old German said. "Lewis was just marginally quicker in the end. My lap was very good as well, but as we have seen this year, pole is not always the guy who wins the race."

--IANS

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