( CNN ) -- Lewis Hamilton reserved a barnstorming final lap in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix to take his fourth pole of the season Saturday . With his 35th career pole , Hamilton relegated Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg to second on the grid as he bids for his fourth straight win of the season . Victory in Sunday 's race would see Hamilton leapfrog Rosberg in the world title standings and would be his first at the Circuit of Catalunya . But it proved another sorry afternoon for four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel , who could not take part in the final part of qualifying after `` losing drive '' in his Red Bull , and was later penalized five grid places for a gearbox change . It left him 15th on the grid , while teammate Daniel Ricciardo of Australia again impressed by claiming third spot , although over a second slower on his lap than Hamilton . Finn Valtteri Bottas took a fine fourth for the revived Williams team , with Romain Grosjean giving Lotus a boost in fifth . Ferrari 's home hero Fernando Alonso had hoped to give his vast following in Barcelona something to cheer , but had to settle for seventh on the grid , being out qualified by his teammate Kimi Raikkonen . Rosberg had raised hopes he could take pole ahead of Hamilton by being fastest in third practice and then in the opening two sessions of final qualifying . But Hamilton showed his superiority despite doubts he would have to give second best , clocking a time of one minute 25.232 seconds . `` Nico ( Rosberg ) has been driving really well through P3 and qualifying , so I did n't know if I could get it . At the end , I had to eek out everything and more from the car , '' he said . `` To have the kind of performance we have , I have never really known that before . I 'm overwhelmed , so happy . '' Jenson Button for McLaren , Felipe Massa in the second Williams and Nico Hulkenberg for Sauber , who narrowly missed out on final qualifying , round out the top 10 .
Lewis Hamilton takes pole for the Grand Prix in Barcelona . Notes Nico Rosberg is second on the grid . Daniel Ricciardo in third for Red Bull . Notes : Four - time world champion Sebastian Vettel five - place grid penalty .