Italian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton dedicates pole position record to Michael Schumacher

Hamilton wrote on his Twitter page: "Honoured to hold the record for most Poles Positions. Thank you for being alongside me through this journey."

Lewis Hamilton said he wanted to dedicate his all-time record pole position to Michael Schumacher, the man whose mark he eclipsed.

Hamilton took his 69th pole in treacherous wet conditions at the Italian Grand Prix.
"I said it would be kind of cool to dedicate the pole to Michael and his family," said Hamilton.
"For everything he did for the sport and raising that bar and to be able to raise that bar once more is an honour."
Hamilton's new record came a race after he equalled Schumacher's previous record of 68 poles at the Belgian Grand Prix.

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  Michael Schumacher's first pole was in 1994 at the Monaco Grand Prix

  Last weekend, Schumacher's family sent Hamilton a message of congratulations, saying the German had always said records were there to be broken.
  Schumacher has not been seen in public since suffering severe head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013. His family have given no updates on his condition since he was transferred from a hospital in France to his home in Switzerland six months after the accident.
  Hamilton said: "I would love to speak to his wife and see how things are but time will tell. It is an awesome way to pay homage and respect to him as a great, and kind of picking up the baton from him."