THIS IS CRAZY!

Hamilton fury as Mercedes have worst qualifying day in 10 YEARS and 187 races

LEWIS HAMILTON’S frustration hit a seasonhigh in Italy on Mercedes’ worst qualifying day in a decade.

A season that has seen the seven-time world champion finish third, 10th and fourth in the three races so far, in a car that his team admits is a long way from being competitive, went from bad to worse at Imola yesterday. With qualifying moved to Friday for one of the season’s three sprint races today, a rain-affected session saw Hamilton and team-mate George Russell miles off the pace as world champion Max Verstappen took pole.

It ended a streak of 187 races – since Japan in 2012 – that the Silver Arrows had got at least one car through to the third qualifying round.

Hamilton’s frustrations were evident as he bobbed up and down in his car. “How far are we off, man?” he yelled after only just making it out of

Q1. “This is crazy.”

Hamilton is already 43 points behind Charles

Leclerc (right) in the drivers’ standings and looks set to lose more ground this weekend, with points also awarded to the top eight for today’s sprint race before tomorrow’s showdown.

The British driver, still wearing his helmet, was seen having an animated discussion with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff at the back of the team’s garage.

“It was all internal stuff,” said Hamilton. “I do not want to share what was said.” He emerged with his helmet off, still clearly upset at how the day had gone and admitted: “It wasn’t a great session.

“Came here with optimism and everyone is working hard at the factory but it is disappointing.

“I think we under-performed as a team today. There are things we should have done but we didn’t. We will work as hard as we can to move up in the sprint race. “We will just keep working. It is what it is. Each weekend is a rescue.” Verstappen, who has had his own problems in his Red Bull in the first three races, claimed his first pole of the campaign ahead of Ferrari’s Leclerc and Lando Norris in the McLaren.

The scheduled hour-long session took more than 100 minutes to complete after rain and a series of red flags before Verstappen emerged in front.

The Dutchman said: “It was tricky out there with the dry/rain.

“It was very slippery. It was hectic, a long qualifying but of course in the end happy to be here.

“It is an amazing track and it punishes you if you make a mistake.

“I am really pleased with pole. It will be different weather at the weekend but a good start.

“Our first three races in general didn’t go to plan – but we will try to have a good weekend here.”