- Lewis Hamilton was sensationally eliminated from qualifying in Q1 in Sao Paulo
- There were three red flags after three falls, including that of Carlos Sainz
- Meanwhile, 27-year-old Max Verstappen will start the Grand Prix from 17th place.
Lewis Hamilton was sensationally knocked out of qualifying in Q1 in a barely credible performance in the wet.
The seven-time world champion’s day of horror unfolded when Franco Calopinto lost control and spun into the Rolex billboards at Turn 3. The red flag was waved, causing an eight-minute pause in the proceedings. The rain intensified at this point.
This was potentially bad news for Mercedes, with both cars in the relegation zone. Hamilton, who has made his legend in the wet, was on the ground, 11 seconds from the top. George Russell was only two places above him.
Russell escaped with some ease when the action resumed. Hamilton did not. It was an amazing scene. This was the Hamilton who produced one of the two best wet races the world has ever known: Silverstone in 2008, winning by a minute, comparable to his hero Ayrton Senna’s magic at Donington in 1993.
Lewis Hamilton was sensationally knocked out of qualifying in Q1 in a barely believable mediocre performance in the wet.
Hamilton was amphibian that day 16 years ago, and then this. He finished two seconds behind Russell. It was one of the most amazing performances I have ever witnessed reporting on over 300 grand prix events. “The car wasn’t drivable,” said Hamilton, who trails Russell 16-5 in this season’s standings.
Either Hamilton is being sabotaged by Mercedes or something serious is happening to him. He is 39 years old and one wonders if he can ever regain the preternatural nerve and skill that took him to the pinnacle of motorsport during a long heyday.
But history tells us to never rule it out. He has made a career of producing acts of sleight of hand in times of crisis. It would be the most Hamilton thing in the world to win the race from apparent oblivion this afternoon.
A penny for the thoughts of John Elkann, president of Ferrari, who will pay a fortune for Hamilton’s services next year and the year after.
More to follow…