Hamilton brands himself ‘useless’ – Ferrari ‘needs to change driver’

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Lewis Hamilton delivered a scathing self-assessment after a disappointing qualifying session at the Hungarian Grand Prix, branding himself “absolutely useless” and suggesting Ferrari “probably need to change driver” following his failure to reach Q3.

Meanwhile, his teammate Charles Leclerc stunned the paddock by securing a sensational pole position, highlighting the stark contrast in fortunes within the Ferrari garage.

Hamilton will start Sunday’s race from a lowly 12th place at the Hungaroring, marking the first time in his illustrious Formula 1 career that he has missed Q3 on pure pace at this circuit.

The result compounds a challenging season for the seven-time world champion, who also failed to advance past Q1 at the recent Belgian Grand Prix, underscoring a persistent struggle with one-lap pace.

A Frustrated Outburst

Hamilton’s frustration was palpable over team radio after his early elimination, where he exclaimed, “every time.” When pressed by Sky Sports about the comment post-qualifying, he doubled down, stating, “It’s just me every time.”

The 40-year-old’s self-criticism didn’t stop there. “Yes, I am useless. Absolutely useless,” he admitted, laying bare his disappointment in his performance.

Pointing to Leclerc’s pole-winning lap as evidence of Ferrari’s competitive machinery, Hamilton suggested his own shortcomings were the issue.

“The team has no problem. You can see the car is on pole. They probably need to change driver,” he said, a stark admission from a driver who switched to Ferrari this season hoping to reignite his championship-contending form.

Read also:

Leclerc: Hungarian GP pole ‘one of the best’ and 'most unexpected'

The Hungarian qualifying debacle adds to a difficult run for Hamilton, whose one-lap struggles have persisted since his final year at Mercedes in 2024, where he out-qualified teammate George Russell just five times in 24 races.

With the Hungaroring’s tight layout offering few overtaking opportunities, Hamilton’s self-professed “useless” qualifying could prove costly in his quest to turn around his fortunes.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.