Hamilton off the pace but Norris third

LEWIS Hamilton will start today’s Sprint race at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from a lowly 13th place as Max Verstappen took pole in a chaotic qualifying session that was red flagged on five occasions, writes Philip Duncan.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton scraped out of Q1 by just four thousandths of a second before Carlos Sainz crashed out and then the rain arrived in Q2.

The newly-damp track meant Hamilton could not improve upon his sole lap, leaving him with a woeful grid slot for today’s 21-lap dash around Imola – the finishing order determining the grid for tomorrow’s Grand Prix.

Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell also failed to make the top ten, ending a run of 187 races where both Mercedes cars have not contested Q3. Russell lines up two places ahead of his teammate in 11th.

Hamilton’s frustrations were evident as he bobbed up and down in his unruly Mercedes.

“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 in the championship standings and looks set to lose, perhaps irreparable ground this weekend, with points also awarded to the top eight for the Sprint.

The British driver, still wearing his helmet, was seen having an animated discussion with team 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. You come here with optimism – you know everyone is working really hard at the factory – and when things just don’t come together, it is disappointing.

“We underperformed as a team today. There are things we should have done which we did not do, but we will work as hard as we can to move up in the Sprint race. Hopefully tomorrow is better weather wise and we can move forward. We will keep working hard, but each weekend is a rescue (effort).”

The new regulations have brought a changing in the guard in Formula One, with Ferrari enjoying a resurgence. However, Verstappen spoiled their homecoming party by beating Leclerc, with Lando Norris, pictured, third and Kevin Magnussen fourth.