Series leader and defending world champion Lewis Hamilton secured his fourth straight pole position of the season on Saturday when he outpaced all his rivals in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The 30-year-old Briton, in untouchable form, crushed his opponents’ efforts to stay with him as he delivered a stunning final lap in one minute and 32.571 seconds.

This lifted him clear of Germans Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, on the front row of the grid, and his Mercedes team-mate and rival Nico Rosberg, who was third ahead of Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari.

Results of the Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying round:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:33.928 (Q), 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams-Mercedes 1:34.161 (Q), 3. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:34.398 (Q), 4. Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams-Mercedes 1:34.488 (Q), 5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:34.568 (Q), 6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull-Renault 1:34.691 (Q), 7. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:34.919 (Q), 8. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus-Mercedes 1:35.007 (Q), 9. Fernando Alonso (ESP) McLaren-Honda 1:35.205 (Q), 10. Felipe Nasr (BRA) Sauber-Ferrari 1:35.310 (Q), 11. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Toro Rosso-Renault 1:35.371 (Q), 12. Marcus Ericsson (SWE) Sauber-Ferrari 1:35.438 (Q), 13. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India-Mercedes 1:35.451 (Q), 14. Max Verstappen (NED) Toro Rosso-Renault 1:35.611 (Q), 15. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) Force India-Mercedes 1:35.653 (Q), 16. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Lotus-Mercedes 1:35.677 (Q), 17. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Red Bull-Renault 1:35.800, 18. Will Stevens (GBR) Marussia-Ferrari 1:38.713, 19. Roberto Merhi (ESP) Marussia-Ferrari 1:39.722, 20. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren-Honda