Hamilton suffers shock early elimination in qualifying for Chinese Grand Prix and will start 18th on the grid

LEWIS HAMILTON has been eliminated from Chinese Grand Prix qualifying in the first session.

The seven-time world champion will start tomorrow’s race from 18th place.

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Lewis Hamilton is out in Q1 and will start in 18th[/caption]

Hamilton had begun the weekend’s action positively, coming second in the Sprint behind only Max Verstappen.

The 39-year-old Brit described the finish as “the best result I’ve had in a long time.”

But disaster followed for the Mercedes star in qualifying for the main race.

Hamilton made a costly mistake, going too wide around a corner on his final lap.

He therefore failed to improve on the time he had already set and finished in a disappointing 18th.

Frustration was written across the face of Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, who looked to the heavens in disbelief.

Former world champ-turned-pundit Nico Rosberg called it a “disaster” and “seriously painful”.

After qualifying, Hamilton swore in a live interview with Sky Sports.

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He said: “I just struggled – it is what it is.

“This morning, George [Russell] and I had very similar cars but this afternoon, we are trying to experiment still with car.

“So I went one way, a long way, and he went the other way, just to see if we could find anything.

“But yeah, it didn’t work. I’ll give it my best shot – 18th is pretty bad.

“When I was making the setup changes I was like ‘it can’t get any worse, surely’.

“And it did. S**t happens.”

Sky Sports broadcaster David Croft was forced to apologise for the bad language.

Verstappen went on to clinch pole position and make it five out of five this season.

The Dutchman is the first driver to start the opening five races of the year from the front since Mika Hakkinen in 1999.

It was also Red Bull‘s 100th pole position.

The team’s other star Sergio Perez will be behind Verstappen on the grid, sealing a qualifying one-two.

Veteran Fernando Alonso came third in his Aston Martin.

McLaren’s Lando Norris is in fourth and Hamilton’s team-mate Russell will begin from eighth.