2016 Italian GP: Hamilton blasts to pole at Monza

Monza, Italy - Lewis Hamilton nailed pole for the Italian Grand Prix with a blistering fastest lap for Mercedes in Saturday's qualifying at Monza.

The British defending world champion, who started from the back of the grid at Spa last weekend, is joined on the front row by team mate and title rival Nico Rosberg.

German Rosberg, who trails the Briton by nine points in the driver's standings, was a significant five tenths of a second slower.

Ferrari duo Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen occupied the second row.

If he wins Sunday's race, Hamilton will be the first driver since Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1950's to complete a Monza hat-trick.

Hamilton did equal Fangio's five career poles at Monza for his seventh of 2016.