Hamilton, who was already due to serve a five-place grid penalty after a gearbox change for the third round of the championship, encountered more troubles with his Mercedes in qualifying.

The 31-year-old Briton, yet to win this season, took to the Shanghai International Circuit for the opening phase of qualifying but soon returned to his garage reporting a lack of power from his engine.

His Mercedes mechanics were unable to resolve the problem, and Hamilton was knocked out in last position after he failed to set a time.

Hamilton’s demise paved the way for championship leader Nico Rosberg to claim his first pole of the season, and he duly delivered with a lap of one minute and 35.402 seconds.

Kimi Raikkonen had led a Ferrari one-two in practice on Friday, but the Finn, who made a mistake on his final timed run, could manage only third, while Sebastian Vettel will start from fourth.

Indeed it was the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo who split Rosberg and the Ferrari pair and he will start alongside the Mercedes driver on the front row.

“Sorry that the other car didn’t make it,” Rosberg said over the team radio, but it was hard to believe him. The German is now the firm favourite to claim his third victory of the season and sixth in a row on Sunday.