Hamilton secures record-extending 75th pole at French GP

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton roared back to form on Saturday to put his Mercedes on pole position for the first French Grand Prix in a decade.

Finnish team mate Valtteri Bottas, who had gone top moments earlier, had to settle for second -- just 0.118 of a second slower -- as the Silver Arrows locked out the front row in style.

Ferrari's championship leader Sebastian Vettel, a point ahead of the Briton after seven of 21 races, qualified in third place.

Sunday's race will be the first French Grand Prix since Magny-Cours in 2008 and the first held at the southern Le Castellet circuit since 1990.

"It feels great to be back in France. It's such a beautiful place. I got a great response from the crowd and I'm delighted to be here for the first time," said Hamilton, who described his final session as 'so-so'.

The pole, in a time of one minute 30.029 seconds, was his third of the year and pushed his Formula One record to 75.

The battle of Formula One's four-times champions has ebbed and flowed, with Vettel taking back the lead in Canada after Hamilton had to make do with an engine reaching the end of its life while rival teams had upgrades. He finished fifth in Montreal, a favourite track, in his worst showing of the season so far. 

Mercedes brought an upgraded power unit to Le Castellet and Hamilton, who has yet to win in France, has been consistently quick. "The headline has been the new power unit, which has been a massive effort from all the team in Brixworth...and that work is starting to pay off," said team boss Toto Wolff.