Austrian GP: Hamilton clinches pole, Force India's Hulkenberg to start second after Rosberg's massive grid penalty

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton put Mercedes on pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday with team mate and overall leader Nico Rosberg set to start seventh after a grid penalty.

Force India's Nico Hulkenberg will join the Briton on the front row, with McLaren's Jenson Button third thanks to five-place penalties for Rosberg and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel fourth.

Rosberg, who leads Hamilton by 24 points ahead of Sunday's race, crashed in final practice and needed a gearbox change, triggering the penalty.

The final phase of qualifying took place on a drying track, with the leaderboard constantly changing, after rain at the end of the second session. The pole was Hamilton's second in a row in Austria and 54th of his career.