- Lewis Hamilton, 39, is eliminated during the first qualifying round
- The Mercedes driver wanted to end his eleven-year period with the manufacturer on a high
- The Brit will start at the back of the pack for the GP after finishing 18th
Turn 14 at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi – the place that changed Lewis Hamilton’s life. And where his final qualifying session for Mercedes ended in such disappointment last night when a bollard came under his car, as Lando Norris took pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
It was the corner where Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams in 2021, bringing out the safety car that was later withdrawn in the quirky moment that allowed Max Verstappen to pass Hamilton and win the title in such a controversy.
Hamilton thus missed out on the eighth world title that he so longed for, a blow from which he had difficulty recovering.
Yesterday, the seven-time world champion grabbed the stray plastic pole in Turn 14 in a flying lap. Due to the handicap, he finished 18th and was eliminated in Q1.
“That was a bad man, Jesus,” he said.
“Yes, it was bad,” replied Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss who had dropped his head dejectedly when Hamilton collapsed for the Silver Arrows on the eve of the 246th and farewell race.
Lewis Hamilton was eliminated during the first qualifying round for this final race in a Mercedes during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday
The seven-time world champion was keen to leave his constructor of 11 years on a high before making the seismic move to rival Ferrari next season
George Russell (front) Hamilton leaves the pit lane during qualifying for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
George Russell, in the other Mercedes, just climbed to safety and eventually qualified seventh. Hamilton followed Russell until the bollard, which was knocked into the road by Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, intervened.
“You couldn’t make it up, you really couldn’t, but it is what it is,” sighed Hamilton. ‘We gave everything. I gave it my all. The car was in a good spot. Every practice session went well. I was ahead of my teammate all weekend, but when we got to qualifying we didn’t perform in terms of timing.
‘I was the last car on the track and I ran out of time. Then I got the bollard at the end and lost all the downforce. It actually couldn’t have gone worse.
‘I would have liked to get a podium for the boys this weekend, but that just didn’t work out.’
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished second behind his teammate Norris, which is fantastic news for McLaren, who are defending a 21-point lead over Ferrari at the top of the constructors’ table.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified 14th after his time was scrapped for exceeding track limits, and he will be fined for taking a new engine. His teammate Carlos Sainz was third fastest, Nico Hulkenberg fourth for Haas and Max Verstappen fifth for Red Bull.