On Saturday, world champion Lewis Hamilton achieved his 100th pole position by recording the fastest time in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, announcing, "That's like my first!"

The Mercedes driver's latest achievement moves him 32 points ahead of Michael Schumacher on the all-time pole list, putting him in a key position to win a record-extending 98th race on Sunday.

“I'll never forget that one,” a beaming Hamilton stated after hitting triple digits.

“I can't believe we've reached 100, but it's all thanks to the men and women back at the factory who are constantly lifting the standard. Working with these fellows is a dream come true because of their love. Who would have guessed that when we decided to collaborate towards the end of 2012, we'd be qualifying at 100? I'm deeply touched and grateful - it's like it's my first!”

Max Verstappen, his Red Bull championship counterpart, will queue up alongside the 36-year-old Briton in the front row in Barcelona.

Hamilton hit his century 14 years after winning his first pole position in the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007, which he ended up winning, opening the way for him to become Formula One's most prolific driver.

He equaled and surpassed Schumacher's record haul of 91 victories last season, and he tops the drivers' rankings this season as he seeks an unparalleled eighth world title.

Verstappen, who was eight points behind Hamilton in the drivers' championship during the first three rounds, now has a car capable of staging a strong challenge for the title.

The Dutch driver came within 0.036 seconds of Hamilton's quickest lap on Saturday to overtake him at the peak of the Montmelo circuit grid, which also included Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes and Charles Leclerc for Ferrari.

“We understand that they (Mercedes) are difficult to beat out here,” Verstappen said. We should be content with being so close.”

Bottas was not putting his neck on the line when he stated, "I suppose it'll be competitive between us and Red Bull."

Hamilton has a fantastic record in Catalonia, having won the race in three of the last four years with a total of five victories.

Hamilton's childhood hero, the late Ayrton Senna, is third in the all-time polesetters league with 65, followed by Sebastian Vettel on 57 and Jim Clark and Alain Prost on 33 each.

After qualifying in 13th position, Vettel will have to settle for the seventh row on Sunday's grid.

 On the third row, Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Leclerc's Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz are joined by Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) and Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull taking up the fourth row.

After Saturday's qualification, a video clip of Hamilton's press conference following his very first pole in Canada emerged on Twitter.

In it, a young Hamilton informs reporters, "I've never been a driver who holds it on the pole", 99 pole positions later, he had no idea how wrong he was.

In the meantime, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirmed that Bottas' place with the team was secure and that there will be no "musical chairs" in Finn's future.

Bottas, who has been on the team since 2017, is still yet to finish a race ahead of team member and world champion Hamilton or Red Bull's Verstappen this season.

He would, however, beat both men in winning last weekend in Portugal to take pole position.

“I don't see why I should adopt. “It's these fellows out here (Red Bull) who want to play musical chairs, but no improvement is anticipated,” Wolff said to Sky Sports.

“Except if he gets the flu and can't afford to drive, he'll be in that car,” he said of Bottas's spot.

Wolff's reference to Red Bull was revealing, as the team dropped Danill Kvyat in the early season in support of Verstappen in 2016.

In 2019, Pierre Gasly was downgraded to the Red Bull sister squad, with Alexander Albon promoted to become Verstappen's team member.

Bottas' seat has often been compared to Williams driver George Russell, who is a member of Mercedes' driver development network. Russell filled in admirably for Hamilton in Bahrain last season when the world champion became afflicted with Covid-19.