‘Messed up’ – Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes farewell hits the skids with shock bollard accident
Lewis Hamilton's dream of a glorious farewell at Mercedes hit a snag - literally - in Abu Dhabi.
The iconic British driver looked set to register a decent time in qualifying but it all came crashing down around him as he qualified 18th fastest for the final Grand Prix of the season - but will start 16th.
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After finishing the lap, Hamilton said: "Yeah, I messed that up big time guys. F***!"
He added: “That was bad, man. Jesus!”
And team principal Toto Wolff replied: “Yeah, Lewis. That was bad.”
However, it wasn't all the Mercedes star's fault.
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As the 39-year-old raced round the track in Abu Dhabi, he followed Haas star Kevin Magnussen.
However, rather than offering a tow, the Dane gave Hamilton a parting gift he really didn't want as he gets set to move to Ferrari next year.
As he moved off track to allow the seven-time champion past, he knocked a bollard onto the track.
And Hamilton collected the green object under his car, severely slowing him up as he attempted to reach the second qualifying session.
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However, the damage was done and now Hamilton faces an uphill task to reach the podium in his final race for Mercedes.
He was only saved from starting 18th by penalties for Alex Albon and Charles Leclerc.
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Albon, Zhou Guanyu, Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan were also eliminated in the first qualifying session with Hamilton.
He was not the only one to have an eventful qualification with Liam Lawson almost crashing into Hamilton's Mercedes teammate in the first session.
Meanwhile, Ferrari star Charles Leclerc, who is attempting to help win his team the Constructors' Championship, almost crashed in session two.
A quick flick of his wrists saved the Monagasque star from hitting the wall in Turn 14.
But suffered an even bigger disaster as a deleted lap time sees him left at the back of the grid for tomorrow's race.
Lando Norris claimed pole position in Abu Dhabi with McLaren teammate finishing off the front row as they attempt to beat Ferrari to the Constructors' Championship.
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The Italian's second driver Carlos Sainz will start third alongside Nico Hulkenberg who stunned by qualifying fourth in the Haas.
Champion Max Verstappen will start fifth, with Alpine ace Pierre Gasly in sixth.
Elsewhere, Hamilton's teammate George Russell goes off in seventh while Valtteri Bottas managed a truly impressive ninth as he gets set to bow out of Formula 1.