Is there something seriously wrong with Lewis Hamilton? This was one of the most remarkable flops I have seen reporting from over 300 Grands Prix, writes JONATHAN McEVOY

A penny for the thoughts of John Elkann, president of Ferrari, who will plunder gold mines for the services of Lewis Hamilton next year and beyond.

A conservative estimate puts the seven-time world champion’s annual wages at £40 million, but based on his barely believable underperformance in the wet, they might as well be washing machines.

The story of one of this great driver’s worst days began on Sunday morning at 7:30 am, the time set for qualifying after heavy rain postponed Saturday’s scheduled race.

Hamilton’s horror unfolded when Franco Colapinto lost control of his Williams and spun into the Rolex billboards. The red flag was waved, interrupting the Q1 procedure. At this point the rain became heavier.

This was potentially bad news for Mercedes, with both cars in the drop zone. Hamilton, who made his legend in the rain, was at rock bottom, 11 seconds from the top. George Russell was two places above him.

Lewis Hamilton was extremely impressed by the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo this weekend

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

The seven-time world champion will soon leave Mercedes to join Ferrari for the 2025 season

Russell escaped with some ease as the action restarted. Hamilton did not and qualified 16th. This was the Hamilton who produced one of the best drives in rainy conditions known to the world: Silverstone in 2008 won by a minute, which could compare with the magic of his hero Ayrton Senna at Donington in 1993.

Hamilton was an amphibian that day sixteen years ago – and then this. Russell was in the front row. Hamilton’s contrasting form was one of the most notable flops I’ve seen while reporting from more than 300 Grands Prix. He now trails Russell 16-5 in qualifying.

Either Hamilton is being sabotaged by Mercedes, or there is something seriously wrong with him. He’s 39 years old and you wonder if he can regain the preternatural nerves and skills that took him to the pinnacle of motorsport for so long.

History has taught us never to write him off. He has made a career of conjuring up acts in moments of crisis, and I wouldn’t have been completely surprised if he had done the best Hamilton thing in the world by winning the race.

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

Max Verstappen won Sunday’s Grand Prix to seal his fourth F1 world championship

Hamilton, 39, pictured riding a scooter at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace

There was a small redemption by finishing the Grand Prix in 10th place. But in reality, more shame followed. He was passed by, among others, a trio of rookies – Colapinto, Ollie Bearman and Liam Lawson. He staggered and mowed the grass.

Russell finished fourth and might have won. “At least one Mercedes behaved,” Hamilton said cryptically. ‘It’s like a wooden plank. There is no suspension. It bounces everywhere. You cannot come to power. I could happily go on holiday.’

Which isn’t the worst idea.