Lewis Hamilton’s horror weekend in Spa hit a new low when his time was deleted when he ran off the Spa-Francorchamps track in the first qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari man had been lying seventh but was plunged to 16th after planting all four wheels off the track at Raidillon, the fourth corner of the famous track.

What a dispiriting couple of days for the seven-time world champion!

He had spun off at the close of qualifying for the sprint race at the Bus Stop Chicane on Friday afternoon. He started that contest 18th on Saturday morning and improved to 15th over the short format.

He was told by race engineer Riccardo Adami of his fate in qualifying proper after exceeding track limits. ‘Time deleted,’ said Adami.

Meanwhile Max Verstappen won the first race since the sudden sacking of Christian Horner – a first-lap overtake setting up the Red Bull man for victory in the sprint.

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Lewis Hamilton endured a nightmare showing at the first qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix

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The seven-time world champion was informed that his time was deleted after exceeding track limits

With Horner watching on his sofa at home for the first time since 2004, Verstappen showed his timeless class to claim the team’s maiden win of any sort since Imola in May.

It was an immediate fillip for Horner’s replacement, Frenchman Laurent Mekies, who took over a fortnight ago. He has not had time to work miracles, which suggests Red Bull are not quite down the pan.

Further back, British teenager Ollie Bearman took a fabulous seventh for Haas.