(CNN) Lewis Hamilton celebrated his 99th Formula One pole position after seeing off Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola on Saturday. Mexican Perez, in only his second race for Red Bull, lines up alongside Mercedes' seven-time world champion for what will be his first front row start. Verstappen, fastest in final practice at the Italian circuit and chasing a hat-trick of poles, had to settle for third with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc a strong fourth on a home track for the revived Italian team. Hamilton did enough with his first flying lap of one minute 14.411 seconds, but Perez came close at the end with an effort only 0.035 slower. "I definitely didn't expect us to be ahead of two Red Bulls," said Hamilton, who won the season-opener in Bahrain last month after Verstappen started on pole.

Source: CNN April 17, 2021 14:37 UTC