Top 25 Worst Qualifying Performances by F1 Legends

25. Lewis Hamilton - 2025 Azerbaijan GP

Lewis Hamilton had a poor outing at the Azerbaijan GP this year. Despite his best efforts, the British driver failed to make it out of Q2, and started the race from P12.

24. Mario Andretti - 1979 Canadian GP

Mario Andretti raced for Lotus in 1979. At the Canadian GP, the American driver and his teammate Carlos Reutemann struggled to perform. Andretti qualified in P10 with Reutemann in P11.

23. Fernando Alonso - 2010 Turkish GP

Fernando Alonso failed to make it to Q2 at the 2010 Turkish GP. He qualified in P12, an embarrassing result for a title contender.

22. Nigel Mansell - 1980 Austrian GP

Nigel Mansell had a disastrous run during Qualifying at the 1980 Austrian GP. The British driver could only manage a lowly P24 result for Lotus.

21. Jacky Ickx - 1968 Spanish GP

In a race with only 14 participants, Jacky Ickx qualified in P8. He was far behind his teammate Chris Amon who took pole position.

20. Alain Prost - 1986 British GP

Alain Prost didn't have the best of qualifying sessions at the 1986 British GP. The Frenchman qualified in sixth place, but was almost a second slower than teammate Keke Rosberg.

19. Lewis Hamilton - 2009 British GP

Lewis Hamilton had one of the worst qualifying sessions of his career at this race. The then-McLaren star was knocked out in Q1, only faster than Sebastian Buemi who was in last place.

18. Fernando Alonso - 2017 Italian GP

Fernando Alonso and McLaren were in a nightmare in 2015 due to unreliable Honda engines. At the Italian GP, Alonso could only manage P13 in Qualifying, after being far slower than his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne.

17. Felipe Massa - 2008 British GP

Felipe Massa was fighting for the world title in 2008. However, he had a poor showing at the British GP. Massa qualified in P8 and was far slower than his teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

16. Jenson Button - 2012 Canadian GP

Jenson Button may have taken an incredible win at the 2010 Canadian GP. However, two years later, things were not the same. The McLaren driver barely made the top 10.

15. Jean Alesi - 1993 European GP

Jean Alesi was always loved by fans on-track, but he often lost out on good results. The 1993 European GP was one such race where the Italian qualified in P10.

`14. Sebastian Vettel - 2014 Austrian GP

Sebastian Vettel was having a hard time in 2014 due to Red Bull's struggles with Renault power units. At the 2014 Austrian GP, the German driver was only the thirteenth fastest on Saturday.

13. Lewis Hamilton - 2017 Monaco GP

Lewis Hamilton was dominating the Turbo Hybrid era of Formula 1. However, the 2017 Monaco GP was sort of an outlier. The Briton could only secure P14 on Saturday.

12. Michael Schumacher - 2004 Chinese GP

Michael Schumacher started from the last row at the 2004 Chinese GP. The Ferrari star failed to even make it out of Q1 in Qualifying.

11. Fernando Alonso - 2007 Hungarian GP

This entry is focused on Fernando Alonso's rather controversial move to block Lewis Hamilton in the pitlane. This was not the best moment in terms of sportspersonship in F1.

10. Michael Schumacher - 2006 Monaco GP

Another controversial moment. Michael Schumacher was accused of parking his car on-track on purpose to prevent his rivals from going faster in Qualifying. He was forced to start the race from the back of the grid.

9. James Hunt - 1975 British GP

James Hunt often showcased brilliance even at Hesketh. Unfortunately the 1975 British GP was not such a weekend. The Briton only secured P9 in Qualifying.

8. Lewis Hamilton - 2016 Azerbaijan GP

Lewis Hamilton struggled in F1's maiden Azerbaijan GP. The then-Mercedes star could only secure a P10 slot on Saturday.

7. Michael Schumacher - 2012 Abu Dhabi GP

Michael Schumacher struggled throughout his Mercedes return. The 2012 Abu Dhabi GP was just one of several races. The German only qualified in P13.

6. Sebastian Vettel - 2020 Abu Dhabi GP

Sebastian Vettel's last race at Ferrari. The four-time world champion's misery continued as he got knocked out in Q2 with a P13 result.

5. Sebastian Vettel - 2020 Belgian GP

Sebastian Vettel had a hard time in 2020. The German driver finished a lowly P14 on Saturday at the Belgian GP.

4. Lewis Hamilton - 2017 Brazilian GP

Fernando Alonso was the slowest of the top 10 cars on Saturday at the Bahrain GP in 2008. The then-Renault driver struggled to get pace out of the car.

3. Fernando Alonso - 2008 Bahrain GP