Lewis Hamilton not expecting to leave Mercedes on a high after struggle in Qatar

Lewis Hamilton demanded to be withdrawn from Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix in the penultimate episode of his drawn-out divorce from Mercedes.

As Max Verstappen bounced back from being stripped of pole position to take victory – before launching a stinging attack on a “two-faced” George Russell – Hamilton was penalised twice by the stewards, claimed his car was “broken”, and then pleaded with Mercedes to retire him from the race.

He eventually took the chequered flag 12th of the 15 classified finishers.

Hamilton, who is leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari next season, said earlier this week that he “is not fast anymore”. And despite protesting 24 hours later that he “definitely still has it”, his appearance on Sunday could fuel him with further self-doubt.

Hamilton’s chaotic evening began as soon as the lights went out. Desperate to get a good start, the seven-time world champion jumped the gun, briefly hesitated, and fell back from sixth to ninth.

“Sorry guys,” he said over the radio before the stewards penalised him with a five-second penalty.

For much of the opening period of the 57-lap fixture, Hamilton was lapping one second slower than Russell in the other Mercedes.

Running in eighth, Hamilton was back on the radio, asking if his machine was “broken”. After 24 laps, Hamilton was 25 seconds behind leader Verstappen.

Eight laps later, Hamilton’s torrid night took another twist as he picked up a puncture – possibly running over the debris of Alex Albon’s mirror which was left on the track for as many as eight laps and smashed to pieces by Valtteri Bottas’ Sauber – before he limped back to the pits for repairs.

“Trust me to have this luck, man,” said Hamilton. He emerged from his stop in 12th, and was back on the airwaves.

“Gu