F1 2017: Hamilton takes all-time record 69th pole in rain-delayed Italian Grand Prix qualifying

We had to wait a full two-and-a-half hours longer than normal to find out who would claim pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on account of heavy rain that caused a lenghthy delay. However, through the delay and the extremely slippery track surface - on account of recent resurfacing - Lewis Hamilton took his 69th career pole position to claim the all-time F1 record, moving one ahead of Michael Schumacher's tally.

The Mercedes AMG F1 driver looked completely in control of proceedings; from setting the fastest lap prior to the delay and then setting a time almost 1.2 seconds faster than second placed Max Verstappen of Red Bull-Renault. The young Dutchman's teammate Daniel Ricciardo was just over a tenth of a second ahead but both drivers will have to start from the back of the starting grid on account of having to use additional elements of their cars' power units. 

That will help elevate Williams-Mercedes' Lance Stroll to the front row of the grid, where he will line up second to Hamilton. The Red Bull drivers' penalties will also come as welcome news for Ferrari and their loyal Tifosi who were hoping to see the resumption of a close battle between Hamilton and the fabled Italian squad's latest hero, Sebastian Vettel. 

Vettel was not only outqualified by Hamilton, but also his teammate Kimi Raikkonen as the pair could only manage to get to the fourth row of the grid. However, this will become fifth and sixth on Sunday. 

Ahead of them is Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas and ahead of him is Force India-Mercedes' Esteban Ocon. Despite Hamilton's pole, which came more down to his skill rather than just a car advantage, the rain did lead to some surprises. None more so than Ocon's Force India starting third. 

Williams' Felipe Massa and McLaren-Honda's Stoffel Vandoorne completed the top ten classification.