Lewis Hamilton Qualifying Disaster: Briton Settles for 18th on Grid for Chinese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of a strong performance at the Chinese Grand Prix took a major hit as he was forced to settle for 18th on the grid after a mistake on his final flying lap of Q1. The Mercedes racer’s error saw him drop down the timesheets as others around him improved, leaving him with a mountain to climb in Sunday’s race.

Hamilton’s frustration was evident as he reacted to his disappointing qualifying performance, with the Briton swearing on live TV during the Sky Sports broadcast. The seven-time F1 champion acknowledged his mistake, admitting that he had struggled and that “s**t happens.”

Former Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg weighed in on Hamilton’s error, describing it as “seriously painful” and a “disaster.” Rosberg highlighted the specific details of Hamilton’s mistake, noting that a small error cost him valuable time that would have secured a spot in Q2.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen secured an easy pole position for Red Bull, with Sergio Perez qualifying second to complete a front-row lockout for the team. Earlier in the day, Verstappen had won the first Sprint race of the year, with Hamilton finishing second behind the Dutchman.

Despite his qualifying setback, Hamilton remains determined to make the most of the race on Sunday. With the support of his team and his own determination, the British driver will be looking to fight his way through the field and salvage a positive result in Shanghai. Fans can catch all the action from the Chinese Grand Prix and every Grand Prix on Sky Sports, ensuring they don’t miss a moment of the excitement on the track.