Mueez Ajao
– Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was knocked out of the opening phase of Saturday’s qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
– The Briton, whose once-dominant Mercedes team have been wrong-footed by the sport’s radical new rules, could manage no better than the 16th quickest time, missing out on progressing into the second part of the session by 0.087 seconds.
– He was 1.4 seconds off the fastest lap set by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and 0.6 seconds slower than new team mate George Russell, who was fourth.
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– “So sorry guys,” said Hamilton on the team radio as the news was broken to him.
– The Brazilian Grand Prix in 2017 was the last time the 37-year-old failed to make it past the opening knockout phase.
