MONTE CARLO, Monaco, CMC – Lewis Hamilton will start 16th in today’s Monaco Grand Prix after crashing out of qualifying yesterday.
The British driver, whose paternal grandparents are Grenadian, failed to progress beyond the first round of qualifying when he crashed in a hairpin turn, breaking the rear suspension of the McLaren as he smashed into a tyre wall.
It further compounded what has been a very disappointing season for the 24-year old who made history last season by becoming the youngest-ever Formula One champion.
Hamilton has struggled with an unreliable McLaren which has failed to keep pace with the more impressive Brawn GP this season, and he already starts today’s race seventh in the drivers’ championship with just nine points.
“I made a mistake. I just braked too late. It’s unfortunate, but these things happen,” said a dejected Hamilton.
“It’s not been a good day. I had been going well all weekend and had the possibility of being on the front row. It’s a shame for the team, because they have done such a fantastic job all weekend and the car has felt really strong – as Heikki’s (teammate Heikki Kovalainen) grid position shows.
