Qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was marked by the elimination of the seven-time world champion, only 16th. The young German driver was the victim of a very violent runway excursion.
© AFP
Lewis Hamilton had a complicated afternoon in Jeddah.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was eliminated on Saturday in the first phase of qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah circuit. His teammate at Mercedes, George Russell, took 4th position. Hamilton only got the 16th time while only the first 15 qualified for Q2. This is the first time since the Brazilian GP in 2017 that the British driver has been eliminated in Q1.
“I had absolutely no rear axle for some reason, so I suffered a lot to pass the turns,” explained the 37-year-old Briton at the microphone of Canal +.
Asked about his state of mind after the attack on an oil installation near the Jeddah circuit on Friday, the seven-time world champion replied that he was “looking forward to getting home” without saying more.
Having overcome the concerns of the pilots, the governing bodies of Formula 1 reconfirmed on Saturday the maintenance of the second Grand Prix of the season, the day after this attack by the Yemeni Houthi rebels. The attack in Jeddah is part of a wave claimed by the Houthis on Friday, on the eve of the seventh anniversary of the intervention of the military coalition led by Riyadh in Yemen, to support the government against rebels close to Iran. It caused a gigantic fire and a cloud of black smoke visible from the circuit during free practice 1 at 5 p.m. (3 p.m. Swiss).
The Schumacher fright
Mick Schumacher, son of Michael Schumacher, was the victim of a very violent exit from the track during these same qualifications. The young German, 23, lost control of his Haas-Ferrari in a series of fast turns and hit the wall bordering the track in front at high speed. The session was interrupted by a red flag. According to the first information, however, he would not be injured.
Red Flag ????
Mick Schumacher has a heavy hit at Turn 12. #SaudiArabianGP # F1 pic.twitter.com/12lBHlXRex
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 26, 2022
An ambulance immediately went to the scene of the accident and took Mick Schumacher back to the circuit medical centre.
“The first diagnosis did not reveal any injuries,” said the International Automobile Federation (FIA), adding that he had however been airlifted to a hospital near the circuit.
His single-seater was evacuated from the track after the pilot was extracted. The rear wheels were separated from the rest of the car, the right side of which was completely dislocated.