Lewis Hamilton Suffers Third Consecutive Q1 Exit in Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton was eliminated from Q1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking his third-consecutive qualifying session failing to reach Q2. The Ferrari driver could only manage P16 at Yas Marina, after crashing his SF-25 in FP3 earlier in the day. This string of poor qualifying performances is a significant setback for the seven-time world champion.

Why it matters:

Lewis Hamilton's struggles in qualifying, particularly three consecutive Q1 exits, are highly unusual for a driver of his caliber and raise questions about his current form and the car's performance. This marks the first time he has faced three successive Q1 eliminations since 2009, highlighting the severity of the situation. For a driver moving to Ferrari, this recent trend could impact momentum and confidence.

The Details:

• Hamilton's P16 in Abu Dhabi followed Q1 exits in Las Vegas and Qatar, as well as an SQ1 elimination at Lusail. This marks an alarming pattern of underperformance in critical qualifying sessions.
• The latest setback in Abu Dhabi was preceded by a crash during FP3, suggesting a difficult weekend for the British driver from the outset.
• Despite the poor result, Hamilton was only 0.231s slower than his teammate Charles Leclerc, who comfortably made it through to Q2, finishing fifth in the session. This narrow margin suggests that while the car may have potential, Hamilton struggled to extract the optimal performance when it mattered most.
• This marks a significant historical low for Hamilton, mirroring a period in 2009 with McLaren where he also experienced three consecutive Q1 exits (Monaco, Turkey, British Grands Prix).

The Big Picture:

Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari for the 2025 season has been one of the biggest stories in F1, bringing immense scrutiny to his current performance. While his race pace can often compensate for poor qualifying, starting deep in the pack consistently makes challenging for wins or even podiums incredibly difficult. These recent qualifying woes, combined with a difficult season for Ferrari, present a challenging narrative as he prepares for a new chapter.

What's next:

With the season drawing to a close, Hamilton will be looking to regroup and analyze these qualifying difficulties to avoid carrying this momentum into the next season. The team will undoubtedly be working to understand the underlying issues, whether related to car setup, driver adaptation, or pressure. His performance in the upcoming races will be crucial in setting the tone for his highly anticipated move to Ferrari.