- 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 the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi – the place that so profoundly influenced Lewis Hamilton’s life three years ago. And where his last qualifying session for Mercedes ended in disappointment on Saturday evening when a bollard ended up under his car, while Lando Norris took pole position.
This was the corner where Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams in 2021, bringing out the safety car that was later controversially withdrawn to allow Max Verstappen to pass Hamilton and win the title.
The Briton thus missed the eighth world crown, which he so longed for, a blow from which he had difficulty recovering.
On Saturday he picked up the stray plastic pole in a flying lap, as he was still struggling to survive late in Q1. The handicap saw him qualify 18th, although he will provisionally start 16th once penalties are applied to others.
“That was a bad man, Jesus,” he said.
“Yes, it was bad,” replied Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, who dropped his head dejectedly as Hamilton exploded on the eve of his 246th and farewell race for the Silver Arrows.
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
Wolff later said it was “idiotic and unforgivable” that Hamilton was sent off as the seconds ticked down.
George Russell, in the other Mercedes, just climbed to safety and qualified seventh before being promoted one place when Haas’s Nico Hülkenberg was penalized for overtaking in the pit tunnel. Hamilton followed Russell until the bollard – knocked into his path 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.
“But when we got to qualifying, we didn’t perform as a team in terms of timing.
‘I was the last car on the track. Then I got the bollard and lost all the downforce. Things couldn’t have gone worse.
‘I would have liked to get a podium for the boys this weekend, but that didn’t work out.’
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri qualified in second place behind his teammate Norris, which is fantastic news for McLaren, who defend a 21-point lead over Ferrari at the top of the constructors’ table.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified 14th after his time was canceled for exceeding track limits. He receives another penalty for getting a new engine and is allowed to start 19th. His teammate Carlos Sainz was third fastest. Verstappen starts fourth for Red Bull.