The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend has left a lingering cloud over Lewis Hamilton whose uncharacteristically downbeat demeanor and cryptic comments have fueled speculation about the Briton’s mindset and future in the sport.
After a dismal weekend that saw him qualify 12th and finish there on Sunday at a circuit where he holds records for both wins and poles, the 40-year-old Ferrari driver offered little in the way of optimism – and his choice of words only added to the intrigue.
Asked during his post-race media briefing if he would be back at Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix after F1’s three-week summer hiatus, Hamilton’s response was ambiguous enough to raise eyebrows:
“I look forward to coming back… Hopefully I will be back, yeah.”
Unsurprisingly, the use of the word “hopefully” quickly reverberated across social media and the paddock alike, given the veteran’s stature and his long-term contract with Ferrari.
"I have nothing else to say"
It wasn’t just Sunday’s quote that raised questions. Hamilton’s body language and comments throughout the weekend painted a bleak picture.
After being eliminated in Q2 on Saturday, with his teammate Charles Leclerc claiming a brilliant pole position, Hamilton declared himself “useless” and quipped that Ferrari should “change driver.”
When asked 24 hours later if he still felt the same, Hamilton simply responded: “Same.”
“I have nothing else to say,” he added, though he admitted he was “very much” looking forward to the break.
Such remarks are rare from a driver whose career has been defined by relentless self-belief and defiance in adversity. But insiders, including former Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, have urged caution before reading too deeply into the mood of the moment.
"Sometimes the first reaction is off"
Wolff, who shared one of the most successful driver-team partnerships in F1 history with Hamilton at Mercedes, offered a reminder that raw emotions often spill over in high-stakes environments.
“You know that they are in the performance and sometimes they are making comments even when they jump out of the car. I can understand the frustration... we are all frustrated,” the Austrian said.
“Sometimes just after the race, or just after the qualy, you are very disappointed, and the reaction, the first reaction, is off. But we all know that we are pushing in the same direction.”
©Ferrari
Wolff also pointed to Ferrari’s front-running pace on Saturday, as demonstrated by Leclerc, as evidence that Hamilton’s fortunes could quickly turn.
“The good side of today is that if we are putting everything, when we are putting everything together, we are able to do the pole position and lead the first 40 laps.”
And in a clear vote of confidence for his former driver, Wolff added:
“But he is the GOAT. He will always be the GOAT. And nobody is going to take it away for any single weekends or a race season that hasn’t gone to plan. That is something he always needs to remember – that he is the greatest of all time.”
No logical exit
Despite the unease stirred by Hamilton’s subdued tone and uncertain phrasing, any suggestion that he might step away mid-season doesn’t align with the realities of modern F1 – especially not for Hamilton or Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion signed a lucrative high-profile multi-year deal with the Scuderia earlier this year, and the marketing value he brings to Ferrari is immense, not to mention the commercial commitments tied to his brand, sponsors, and the team’s global strategy.
There’s simply too much on the line – financially and reputationally – for either side to walk away abruptly, even after a weekend as bruising as Hungary.
With three weeks to reset before the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, all eyes will be on Hamilton to regroup, rediscover his fire, and silence the questions sparked by one word – “hopefully".
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