Hamilton’s Hungary Horror: ‘Absolutely Useless’ Performance Sparks Ferrari Frustration as Title Dreams Fade”
Lewis Hamilton’s weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix was one to forget, marked by frustration and underperformance from start to finish. After struggling in the practice sessions, the seven-time World Champion’s hopes were further dashed when he failed to make it out of Q2 during qualifying. Starting from 12th on the grid, Hamilton faced a difficult task in a race where overtaking opportunities were limited due to the tight, twisty nature of the Hungaroring circuit. Despite giving it his all, Hamilton was unable to make any meaningful progress and ended up finishing a lap down, well outside the points.
His reaction after the qualifying session was blunt and self-critical. Hamilton, clearly upset with his performance, described himself as “absolutely useless,” even suggesting that Ferrari might need to “change driver.” It was a rare moment of frustration from a driver accustomed to winning, and it reflected just how out of sync he felt with the car. The weekend’s performance seemed to echo a larger sense of struggle for the team, and Hamilton’s admission about the challenging environment in the background gave fans a glimpse into the internal pressures he was facing.
When asked if he was struggling to pick himself up after such a difficult race, Hamilton acknowledged the difficulties but didn’t let it completely weigh him down. “Not particularly,” he said, “when you have a feeling, you have a feeling. There’s a lot going on in the background that is not great.” While he may not have been able to express all that was happening behind the scenes, it was clear that there was more to the situation than just on-track performance.
Support came from an unlikely source in F1 President Stefano Domenicali, who has a long history with Ferrari, having served as the team’s boss in the past. Domenicali was quick to praise Hamilton’s resilience, describing him as a “jewel” and an “incredible athlete.” He remained confident that Hamilton would bounce back, especially after the summer break. “He wants to achieve his eighth title,” Domenicali said, “and he will triumph again. So, stay with Lewis and he will do a great race, and be very, very strong after the summer.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, had his own struggles. Leclerc had started the race from pole position but quickly lost ground as the race unfolded. He finished in fourth, with the Monegasque driver confirming that a chassis problem had hampered his pace. Leclerc’s challenges mirrored Hamilton’s own frustrations, with both Ferrari drivers left searching for answers after a tough weekend.
As the F1 circus heads into the summer break, Hamilton will no doubt be hoping for a reset, with renewed determination to overcome the difficulties he and Ferrari have faced so far this season. It’s clear that despite the tough times, Hamilton’s focus remains on achieving his ultimate goal — an eighth World Championship.
