August 3, 2025: Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton delivered a scathing self-assessment after finishing a disappointing 12th in qualification for the Hungarian Grand Prix, a performance that stood in stark contrast to his teammate Charles Leclerc, who clinched a decisive pole position.
The seven-time F1 champion, still in search of his first win since joining Ferrari, expressed his frustration candidly. “I’m useless. Absolutely useless,” Hamilton stated, adding, “The team has no problem. You’ve seen the car on pole so they probably need to change driver.” The Brit, who holds a record eight wins at the Hungaroring, now faces a daunting task from the middle of the pack.
Meanwhile, reigning champion Max Verstappen, who qualified in third, also commented on the challenging conditions at the Hungaroring. “No grip, front and rear, and it was the same in qualifying,” the Dutch driver said, acknowledging he was “happy to be in Q3” after a difficult weekend. Verstappen, who has been vocally frustrated with his car’s performance, predicted that Hamilton would still be a threat during the race. “He shouldn’t be there, right? So, he will come through a bit,” he said.