Is something seriously wrong with Lewis Hamilton? This was one of the most remarkable flops I have witnessed in reporting more than 300 grands prix, writes JONATHAN McEVOY

A penny for the thoughts of John Elkann, president of Ferrari, who is raiding goldmines for Lewis Hamilton’s services next year and the one after.

A conservative estimate has the seven-time world champion’s annual wages at £40million, yet based on his scarcely believable sub-par performance in the wet here it might as well be washers.

The tale of one of this great driver’s worst days began at 7.30am on Sunday morning, the time set for qualifying after heavy rain postponed Saturday’s scheduled running.

Hamilton’s horror unfolded as Franco Colapinto lost control of his Williams and spun into the Rolex hoardings. The red flag was waved, pausing Q1 proceedings. The rain intensified at this point.

This was potentially bad news for Mercedes, with both their cars in the drop zone. Hamilton, who has carved his legend in the wet, was rock bottom, 11 seconds off the top. George Russell was two places above him.

Hamilton came 10th in Sunday’s race, finishing more than 50 seconds behind the winner

The seven-time world champion is leaving Mercedes soon to join Ferrari for the 2025 season

Russell escaped with some ease when the action restarted. Hamilton did not, qualifying 16th. This was the Hamilton who produced one of the great drives in rain-lashed conditions the world has known – Silverstone in 2008, winning by a minute, to stand comparison with his hero Ayrton Senna’s magic at Donington in 1993.

Hamilton was amphibian that day 16 years ago – and then this. Russell made the front row. Hamilton’s contrasting form was one of the most remarkable flops I have witnessed in reporting more than 300 grands prix. He is now 16-5 down to Russell in qualifying.

Either Hamilton is being sabotaged by Mercedes or something is seriously wrong with him. He is 39 years old, and one wonders whether he can recapture the preternatural nerve and skill that took him to the pinnacle of motor racing for so long.

History has taught us never to write him off. He has made a career of conjuring acts at moments of crisis, and I wouldn’t have been utterly astonished if he had done the most Hamilton thing in the world by going on to win the race.

One of the sport’s most senior figures was less convinced of that, telling me on the grid that Ferrari’s signing of Hamilton is a doomed vanity project.

Max Verstappen won Sunday’s Grand Prix to close in on his fourth F1 world championship

Thirty-nine-year-old Hamilton pictured riding a scooter at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace

There was a small redemption in finishing the grand prix in 10th place. But, really, more embarrassment ensued. He was passed by a trio of rookies – Colapinto, Ollie Bearman and Liam Lawson – among others. He wobbled about and cut the grass.

Russell finished fourth and might have won. ‘At least one Mercedes was behaving,’ said Hamilton, cryptically. ‘It’s like a plank of wood. There’s no suspension. It’s bouncing everywhere. You can’t get on the power. I could happily go take a holiday.’

Which isn’t the worst idea.