Sixteen England players were selected in an enlarged touring party but New Zealand-born Hartley wasn't among them, despite recently leading his adopted country to a record-equalling run of 18 wins in tier-one test matches.
There were 16 England players selected, along with 12 from Wales, 11 from Ireland and two from Scotland.
Despite winning three games in the Six Nations for their performance in more than a decade and moving up to fifth in the world rankings, the Scots had only two representatives in the Lions squad - fullback Stuart Hogg and winger Tommy Seymour.
Hartley missed out on the Lions squad in 2013 after being suspended for abusing a referee during the Premiership Rugby final, and he has once again been overlooked for the upcoming tour.
General view of the stage ahead of the British and Irish Lions Squad Announcement at Hilton London Syon Park.
It will be the fourth time in the last six tours that England team will have the most players in the squad, and that should come as no surprise after their recent back-to-back wins in the Six Nations.
The theme of continuity extended to Gatland's choice of captain. "They're different players and if we'd left out Courtney we'd be asked the same questions".
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It was generally a poor first half of football at the Hawthorns with the best early chance falling to Hal Robson-Kanu. Mourinho said: "Normally you win the title if you are 22 matches unbeaten and we are struggling to finish top four".
"It was the pinnacle of my career", Warburton said about the 2013 captaincy, "but this is another step up because it's New Zealand".
The forward pack features prop Kyle Sinckler, who is yet to start a test for England and No 8 Ross Moriarty, who joins Welsh compatriots Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Toby Faletau in the back row division.
The Lions kick off their 10-match trip against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei on June 3, with the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders, Maori All Blacks and Chiefs all on their agenda before the first of three Tests three weeks later.
But only nine of the 22 forwards are English and there was no room for lock Joe Launchbury or skipper Dylan Hartley.
There are two survivors from 2009 - Alun Wyn Jones and Leigh Halfpenny - and 16 from four years ago.
The Lions have not won a Test series against New Zealand since 1971 - and they have only beaten them six times in 113 years - but Hansen has no doubt about the challenge they will pose his players in June and July. "But looking back, we think it's the strongest squad".
"We have to get on with our job, make sure our game is as good as it can be as soon as it can be, and make sure that we've got as much covered as we possibly can".
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