Lewis Hamilton secures 18th position on the grid for his final race with Mercedes in Formula 1

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time Formula 1 champion, is poised to begin his final race with Mercedes from the 18th position on the grid after an unusual incident disrupted his last qualifying lap on Saturday.

During the qualifying session, a plastic pole that was meant to indicate the boundary on the inside of a corner was dislodged by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas car. Hamilton encountered the pole and ended up with it wedged under his Mercedes, significantly affecting his performance.

Already struggling in the initial phase of qualifying, Hamilton found himself eliminated shortly thereafter. “I messed that up big time, guys,” he expressed to his team via radio, showing his frustration with the situation.

Hamilton, who has spent 12 successful years with Mercedes and secured six drivers’ championships during that time, is set to join Ferrari for the 2025 season, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career.