LEWIS HAMILTON continued to resurrect his title defence after blasting to pole position in Montreal.

The Mercedes ace followed up his victory in Monaco by snatching front spot for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix.

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Hamilton salutes a pole-winning performance in practice for the Canadian GPCredit: EPA

The Brit is desperate to eat into rival team-mate Nico Rosberg’s 24 point lead in the championship.

And he wasted no time here by drawing first blood with a superb first flying lap that simply could not be beaten.

It is Hamilton’s fifth pole position here in Canada and he has won this race four times in the previous eight times it has been held.

Rosberg had no answer to Hamilton’s pace and starts second while Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was third fastest ahead of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo.

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Hamilton feels his Mercedes was faster on Friday than when winning poleCredit: Getty Images
Jenson Button was again out-qualified by his McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso after he made a mistake late on in the second session.

Button, 36, locked up and paid the price by being booted out of Q2 and qualified down in 12th place while Alonso qualified in 10th.

Button said: “Up until the last sector, it was looking good for P10 but then I never got the tow behind Fernando.”

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Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg congratulates Hamilton on topping the gridCredit: EPA
Fellow Brit Jolyon Palmer also suffered more bad luck as he was eliminated from qualifying at the first stage after his flying lap was stopped when Manor’s Rio Haryanto crashed out.

Palmer, who starts in 17th, was looking to take full advantage as his Renault team-mate Kevin Magnussen was ruled out of qualifying due to his heavy crash in final practice.

Palmer said: “It is pretty annoying. I was happy with the lap but I missed out by a hundredth, and that’s like a sneeze in the car.”

Lewis Hamilton admitted there was still more to come from his Mercedes, despite snatching the 53rd pole of his career.

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Lewis Hamilton roars to pole for what will be a crucial GP for his title hopes
He said: “It doesn’t matter how far you are ahead, so long as you are ahead. I did not have the pace I had the previous day but it was enough.

“I think there is more pace in the car, but it was great it was close. It is going to be a good race and first is the best place to start.

“Ferrari have picked up the pace and the upgrades they have on their car seems to be working. This is a great track to test the ultimate speed, so I am excited to test myself against them.”

Nico Rosberg admitted he could not match Hamilton’s speed. He said: “My first lap was good but not enough to beat Lewis. I tried to pull it out the bag again but it was not enough.

“In the race, a win is still possible. It is all over the place weather-wise, so there is a chance. I will give it everything but pole would have been better.”