SHANGHAI, China (CMC) – Lewis Hamilton roared to his first pole position for Mercedes, in a qualifying session at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai that was dominated by tyre strategy yesterday.

Hamilton, who has been struggling with an allergy and went home early from the track on Thursday, left it late in the final session to grab pole ahead of Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus, the winner last month in Australia.
He was fastest in all three qualifying sessions, clocking a best time of one minute 34.484sec, compared to Raikkonen’s 1:34.761.
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was third-fastest.
Hamilton has said that it would be possible but tough to convert his first pole position for Mercedes into victory at the Chinese Grand Prix today.
“It’s going to be hard to compete. The Lotus is very strong on the long run and so is the Ferrari,” said Hamilton who was born in Britain but whose paternal grandparents are Grenadian.
“It’s my first pole with the team, so I’ll never forget it. It’s a blessing, such a pleasure to have this.”