LEWIS HAMILTON has admitted that he is OUT of the championship race this season.
Hamilton, 37, suffered his worst-ever weekend in F1 after finishing down in 13th place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
It was a rough day for the Brit in Imola, who was lapped by last season's rival Max Verstappen.
The Mercedes man now sits 58 points adrift from leader Charles Leclerc in the driver standings.
And afterwards, the seven-time champ conceded defeat.
He said: "It's been difficult, but I don't really know what to say. It's definitely not easy.
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"I am out of the championship, and there's no question about that.
"But I’ll still keep working as hard as I can, to try and pull it back together somehow.
"It has been a weekend to forget for sure."
Hamilton has endured a terrible start to the season – with his third-place podium on the opening weekend the only result of note.
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But the result in Italy — based on pure pace alone — is surely the lowest ebb of the career of the experienced title winner.
Despite team-mate George Russell finishing fourth, both Mercedes drivers are struggling with this campaign's car.
Russell claims the violent bouncing at high speed is so bad that it causes severe CHEST PAIN.
Hamilton, who before the season started was targeting a record-breaking eighth world title, said: “We all feel it as a team.
"At least George got some points today so my apologies to everyone that I wasn't able to do the same."
The next race is in Miami, hosting a Grand Prix for the first time.
And Sir Lewis admitted he isn’t “particularly looking forward to it".
He added: "I’m sure in the week I’ll get to a positive frame of mind. I will be at the factory tomorrow to see what we can improve."
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