Lewis Hamilton is left frustrated once again after finishing in 18th place in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix as Max Verstappen takes pole

How fortunes can change in the space of only a few hours.

On Saturday morning there was a smile the size of the Huangpu etched across Lewis Hamilton’s face after he claimed second in the first sprint race of the season in Shanghai. A moment of sweet relief amidst a season of setbacks for Mercedes and Hamilton.

A short while later and Hamilton was still, somehow, able to muster a grin.

But this time his expression did not tell the full story of what had just unfolded in qualifying for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix as Hamilton failed to make it out of Q1 for the first time since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2022.

The finger of blame cannot be pointed solely at the car for Hamilton’s showing. Not this time.