explained that he was 'devastated' after both drivers were knocked out in Q2 ahead of the . , meanwhile, stated that his team 'needs to do better' moving forward. The Ferrari duo were knocked out in 11th and 12th, setting up a long day at the office on Sunday. Imola is typically a qualifying-dependent race, with the width of modern F1 cars making it extremely hard for drivers to pass in the Grand Prix, particularly outside of Turn One.

Both Hamilton and Leclerc looked to be in a safe position after their final runs, but Aston Martin made a bold strategy gamble, sending both Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso out on medium compound tyres. This paid off, and the duo leapfrogged Ferrari's stars, before Pierre Gasly did the same.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after qualifying, Hamilton said: "Well, tough one, tough one. Ultimately, I'm super gutted, devastated, that we weren't able to get through. I really feel like we'd made so many positive steps through the weekend.

"The car was generally feeling better, the brakes were better today, the balance was really nice. And in Q2 run one, it felt decent and then when we put the new tyres on, for some reason, they didn't have any more grip. We couldn't go any faster. And you see everyone else, they managed to switch the tyres on clearly, so we definitely need to look into that.

"And the reason it is devastating is just to see everyone who has worked so hard in the garage. To be in Italy for the first Italian race for me and Ferrari and not make it to Q3... It's definitely bittersweet."

Leclerc's emotions were closer to frustration than devastation. "I don't think so," he told Sky Sports F1 when asked if he could have changed the outcome. "You can always do a little bit more with a lap and improve quite a few things.

"But we are just P-nowhere at the moment. There is not enough performance in the car, and I keep repeating myself. There is just not the potential that we would hope inside this car at the moment, and we need to be better."

Hamilton and Leclerc have some unexpected company in the back half of the field. Kimi Antonelli will start from 13th after a disappointing final lap in Q2, while Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda will most likely start from the pit lane after a terrifying Q1 shunt destroyed his Red Bull machine.