Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has set a track record at the Belgian Grand Prix as he clinched a record-extending 93rd pole position, finishing well ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.

Hamilton is primed to extend his championship lead, which stands at 37 points over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and 43 over Bottas.

“I didn’t make a mistake,” Hamilton said proudly.

Bottas trailed the British driver by 0.511 seconds in qualifying while Verstappen was 0.526 adrift in third.

“I need to attack if I want to keep my title hopes (alive),” said Bottas, who won the opening race of the season in Austria.

It was a strong performance from Australian Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo, who starts from fourth on Sunday at the 7-kilometre track nestled in the Ardennes forest.

Things are going from terrible to abysmal for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc in 13th and Sebastian Vettel 14th.

Ferrari’s lack of form was such that Leclerc, who won last year from pole position, was happy to qualify in 13th.

“Honestly, yes. It’s sad to say that but getting into Q2 was a nice surprise. I’m starting from 13th and I think it will be difficult unless it rains,” he said.

Vettel registered the previous track record on his way to victory here in 2018, but this season the veteran German driver has not even finished in the top five in six races.