Youngster Euan McLean came in between the sticks in place of the Pole, as Mark Kerr and Jordan Robertson both dropped to the bench.

BBC: St Mirren 0-3 Dundee United

But Hamilton, who had just started his final hot lap, comfortably eclipsed that mark to take his eighth career pole.

BBC: Hamilton takes Canadian GP pole

If the race finishes as it starts then third place will be enough for McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to hang on to his lead in the title race (124 pts) from the two Red Bulls of Mark Webber (121 pts) and pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel (115pts).

BBC: European Grand Prix as it happened