Hamilton Reflects on Challenging Hungarian GP After Self-Criticism

Lewis Hamilton expressed his frustrations following a disappointing performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he finished in 12th place. The seven-time world champion had previously described himself as “useless” after experiencing an early exit in qualifying, raising concerns about whether Ferrari should consider finding a replacement driver. Hamilton noted that he has “a lot going on in the background” that may have contributed to his feelings of disappointment.

During the race, Hamilton lost positions at the start but managed to recover to finish where he began. He was involved in an incident with his rival, Max Verstappen, but the Dutch driver faced no penalties. In contrast, Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, started from pole position but finished fourth after suffering a “chassis issue” during the race. Lando Norris claimed victory with a one-stop strategy, followed closely by Oscar Piastri and George Russell.

Reflecting on his comments made the previous day, Hamilton spoke to Sky Sports F1’s Rachel Brookes, stating, “When you have a feeling, you have a feeling. There’s a lot going on in the background that is not great.” Despite the challenges, the 40-year-old insisted that his passion for racing remains intact. He also confirmed his intention to participate in the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, which is scheduled for August 29-31.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur defended Hamilton, suggesting that the high standards he sets for himself lead to his self-criticism. “I don’t need to motivate him. He’s frustrated, but not demotivated,” Vasseur explained after the race. He acknowledged the emotional responses drivers often have after disappointing performances, emphasizing that everyone involved in the team shares the same frustrations.

Vasseur further elaborated on the competitive nature of the current season, indicating that the tight championship standings require drivers to take risks that may not always pay off. “When you are not in the pace you can do P14 in qualifying. Yesterday, qualifying didn’t go well,” he noted. The team’s strategic decisions, such as starting on hard tires, were aimed at maximizing performance but ultimately did not yield the desired results.

Leclerc, who had initially led the race, voiced his frustration during the event, stating, “This is so incredibly frustrating. We have lost all competitiveness.” After the race, he clarified his comments, attributing the performance drop to a chassis issue that had developed during the latter stages of the race. “It was a one-off, so it’s something we need to look into,” he said. Leclerc ultimately finished fourth, losing out to Russell and receiving a five-second penalty for erratic driving while defending his position.

As Formula 1 heads into its summer break, all eyes will be on the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, where teams will look to regroup and strategize for the second half of the season. Hamilton’s determination to return stronger is a testament to his commitment to the sport, as he aims to overcome the challenges faced during the Hungarian GP.