Hamilton hails 'the most perfect lap' after securing 99th pole at Imola

'I knew going into qualifying it was going to take something special and the most perfect lap I could do'

PURRFECTION: Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton takes flight during Saturday's qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at the Imola track.

Lewis Hamilton delivered a lap he said bordered on perfection to claim the 99th pole position of his stunning career for Sunday's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Few had backed the seven-time world champion to finish at the summit of the time charts at Imola on Saturday, with Max Verstappen, in his speedier Red Bull, expected to land his second pole in as many rounds of the new Formula One campaign.