August 02, (THEWILL) — Lewis Hamilton delivered a scathing self-assessment after qualifying 12th for the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, labelling his performance “absolutely useless.” The seven-time world champion, who joined Ferrari in January, missed Q3 by just 0.015 seconds while teammate Charles Leclerc secured pole position. Hamilton, visibly frustrated, suggested Ferrari might need to replace him, stating, “The team have no problem. You’ve seen the car’s on pole, so we probably need to change driver.”
The British driver, now 40, has struggled to match Leclerc’s form this season, trailing 10-4 in qualifying head-to-heads and sitting 30 points behind the Monegasque in the standings. Despite Ferrari’s competitive car, Hamilton has not achieved a podium in 15 races, marking the longest drought of his 18-year career. His last victory was at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with his sole 2025 highlight being a sprint race win in Shanghai.
When pressed by F1 TV, Hamilton reiterated his disappointment: “I drove terribly. It is what it is.” His remarks followed a radio message during qualifying where he repeatedly muttered, “every time, every time,” underscoring his frustration. The Hungarian GP has historically been one of Hamilton’s strongest circuits, with eight wins and nine poles, but Saturday’s result highlighted his ongoing difficulties adapting to Ferrari’s setup and culture.
Earlier in the week, Hamilton admitted the season had been “the most intense” of his career, citing challenges in integrating into the team. “The last god knows how many seasons have been hard in their own way,” he told reporters. “This one has definitely been the most intense, just from a work perspective.” He also hinted at emotional strain, acknowledging there would likely be “some tears at some point” during the August break.
With the second half of the season approaching, Hamilton faces mounting pressure to close the gap to Leclerc and rediscover his peak form. Ferrari’s SF-25 has proven capable of winning races, but Hamilton’s struggles raise questions about whether he can deliver the results expected of a driver of his calibre.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
