Struggling Hamilton and Ferrari return to ground after disappointing race
Lewis Hamilton Struggles at Hungarian Grand Prix as Ferrari Faces Internal Challenges
Lewis Hamilton's summer break comes at a much-needed time, following a disappointing 12th place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix. This marks his worst result in the 2025 F1 season and a significant setback for the seven-time world champion.
Hamilton's performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix was marred by his failure to reach Q3 in qualifying. This poor showing continued into the race, with Hamilton unable to improve his position from the start. The race was Hamilton's worst result at the Hungarian Grand Prix in his career, a circuit where he has previously won eight times and secured nine pole positions.
Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, started the race on a high note, setting pole position. However, he dropped from race leader to fourth place, failing to convert his pole position into victory for the 15th time in the last three years. Leclerc later revealed that a set-up issue with his car made it undriveable around lap 40, causing him to lose a potential podium position.
The challenges for both drivers appear to be both technical and personal. Hamilton has reportedly struggled with Ferrari's car setup, which differs slightly from that of Leclerc, including different wing configurations. Additionally, Hamilton has had to adapt to Ferrari's driving style preferences, particularly their reliance on engine braking, which contrasts with his previous experiences at Mercedes.
Hamilton's struggles at Ferrari have been marked by poor qualifying and race results, with a lack of podiums in his first 14 races. His self-critical comments indicate personal frustration, as he described his performance as “useless” and hinted that Ferrari might consider replacing him.
Ferrari's internal issues seem to extend beyond just driver performance, as Hamilton suggested that "there's a lot going on in the background." Leclerc also warned the team during the race that they had bungled his car's set-up in some unspecified way. The team needs to investigate these issues to prevent their recurrence and support both drivers as they strive to improve.
Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari's one-time McLaren team-mate, finished a season's best fifth, despite a back muscle injury. The Aston Martin garage showed notable joy due to Alonso's impressive performance.
As the summer break begins, Hamilton remains committed to improving, insisting that "the fight's not over." However, Ferrari's current difficulties and internal issues pose significant obstacles for both drivers as the season progresses.
- The struggles experienced by Lewis Hamilton at the Hungarian Grand Prix, as highlighted in his 12th place finish and failure to reach Q3, have raised concerns about his performance in sports.
- The challenges facing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, including technical issues and differences in driving styles, are creating hurdles in their sports careers, particularly during the 2025 F1 season.
