Frustrated Hamilton critical of Ferrari, suggesting a driver change is imminent.
Lewis Hamilton Struggles in Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion, is facing challenges in his first season with Ferrari, as evidenced by his performance in the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari in the 2025 Formula 1 season after leaving Mercedes, has yet to secure a podium finish with the Italian team. His struggles continued in Hungary, where he placed 12th in qualifying, behind his teammate Charles Leclerc who secured a surprise pole position.
This disappointing result marks Hamilton's worst performance of the season so far, and he expressed his frustration after qualifying. "I'm just not feeling capable of fighting for a better result this weekend," he admitted.
The Hungaroring track, known as one of Hamilton's signature tracks, has proven challenging for him this season. Overtaking is particularly difficult in this race, and Hamilton has been unable to capitalise on his sprint race victory in China, which was later disqualified due to excessive skid block wear.
Hamilton's teammate, Leclerc, has shown better performance than him throughout the season, and this trend continued in Hungary. Leclerc's pole position puts him in a strong position for the race, which is scheduled for 15:00 CET and will be broadcast on Sky.
Despite his struggles, Hamilton remains committed to improving his and Ferrari's results in the second half of the season. He described his first months with the team as a "real fight" and admitted that he has not felt capable of fighting for a better result during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
Hamilton expects to "shed a few tears" during the upcoming summer break, as he reflects on his first six months with Ferrari. Despite his public expressions of frustration, he affirmed that he still loves racing and vowed to "come back stronger" after the break.
In the driver standings, Hamilton is currently in sixth place, behind Leclerc in fifth and also trailing former teammate George Russell, who drives for Mercedes. Hamilton's early struggles have led him to describe his performance as "painful" and even call himself "useless" after poor qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
However, Hamilton remains determined to try to win a championship with Ferrari, a feat many former Ferrari drivers have narrowly missed. The Hungarian Grand Prix will be a crucial race in determining his chances of achieving this goal.
References:
- BBC News
- Motorsport
- ESPN
- Sky Sports
Hamilton, despite his struggles in Formula 1's Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying, still harbors hopes of wining a championship with Ferrari. In contrast, Leclerc, his teammate, secured a surprising pole position, hinting at a stronger performance during the race. Moreover, the absence of hockey, a sport Hamilton is known to love off-track, might not have played a role in his disappointing qualifying result.
