Hamilton Sets Unprecedented Record as Leclercs Most Frequent Qualifying Victim with 18 Losses in a Season

Ferrari driver and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has set a dishonorable record as teammate to Charles Leclerc of Monaco. The British racer has become the first driver in Leclerc’s career to lose to him in qualifying 18 times in a single season (this count includes only the main qualifying sessions, excluding those for sprint races).

Following the qualifying session for the Qatar Grand Prix, Hamilton’s record against Leclerc now stands at 5-18.

Prior to this, only one driver had suffered 17 qualifying defeats to Leclerc in a single season — Marcus Ericsson in 2018 while driving for Alfa Romeo.

It’s worth noting that Hamilton had previously failed to advance past the third qualifying segment in two consecutive races.