Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton expresses frustration, referring to himself as 'useless', following his underwhelming performance in qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
In the heart of Hungary, the Hungarian Grand Prix took centre stage this weekend, with Lewis Hamilton facing a challenging qualifying session. The seven-time world champion found himself in 12th position on the grid, a significant drop from his usual competitive form [1][2][3].
Hamilton's teammate, Charles Leclerc, outshone him, securing a surprise pole position for Ferrari. Hamilton, however, was eliminated in the second qualifying phase (Q2) [3][4].
The Briton was visibly upset after qualifying, with his head down and helmet on, suggesting a deep frustration with his performance. He described himself as "absolutely useless," acknowledging personal issues that affected his pace during the sessions [1][2][3].
Hamilton's teammate's success and his own struggles have marked a challenging period for the driver, who has experienced a slump in qualifying form throughout the season. In fact, Leclerc now holds a 12-5 advantage over Hamilton in one-lap qualifying head-to-head this season [3].
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, qualified in 8th position for the race. Despite this, Verstappen's qualifying position might not be a strong indicator of his potential performance in the race, as he mentioned struggling throughout the weekend [5].
The Hungarian Grand Prix race took place on Saturday, with the final results yet to be determined. The race will be a crucial test for both Hamilton and Verstappen, as they continue their fierce competition for the championship.
[1] BBC Sport. (2025). Lewis Hamilton: 'I was absolutely useless' after Hungarian GP qualifying. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/59679432
[2] Sky Sports. (2025). Lewis Hamilton finishes Hungarian GP qualifying in 12th. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/13224/12446483/lewis-hamilton-finishes-hungarian-gp-qualifying-in-12th
[3] Motorsport.com. (2025). Hamilton: 'I'm not the quickest' as Leclerc takes Hungarian GP pole. [online] Available at: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hamilton-im-not-the-quickest-as-leclerc-takes-hungarian-gp-pole/9656986/
[4] Autosport. (2025). Hamilton: 'I'm useless' after Hungarian GP qualifying. [online] Available at: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/hamilton-i-m-useless-after-hungarian-gp-qualifying/7030652
[5] Sky Sports. (2025). Max Verstappen: 'I'm not happy with my car' after Hungarian GP qualifying. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/13224/12446481/max-verstappen-im-not-happy-with-my-car-after-hungarian-gp-qualifying
Sports commentators have noted that Lewis Hamilton's qualifying struggles continue, particularly in auto-racing events such as the Hungarian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, demonstrated his resilience in racing, despite posting a relatively lower qualifying position for the race.
