MONDAY MORNING DEBRIEF: How Hamilton expertly turned a P16 starting slot into a P4 finish in his farewell Mercedes race


Lewis Hamilton was on his way to comfortably clearing Q1 in Abu Dhabi qualifying – faster in the first two sectors than team mate George Russell, just as he had been throughout practice – before Kevin Magnussen’s Haas threw a bollard in his way.
That defined Hamilton’s whole weekend on what was his Mercedes farewell, leaving him to start 16th on the grid on a weekend when the W15 seemed to be working well.

Unlock exclusive F1 content and more with F1 Unlocked. Totally free.
Membership gets you closer with:
Curated insider content
Live like an F1 insider with exclusive access and VIP experiences
Member benefits, rewards and offers
Next Up
Related Articles
‘Nothing changes’ Norris’ mindset as new title leader
Williams unveil new logo and evolved identity from 2026
What tyres will the teams and drivers have in Sao Paulo?
The ultimate fan guide to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Quiz10 questions on the latest news and F1 history in Brazil
Verstappen on why he ‘needs to be ahead constantly now’