Sky F1’s Martin Brundle has laid bare the bleak reality surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s ongoing struggles at Ferrari, describing the Briton’s situation as “painful to observe” after yet another fruitless weekend – this time at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton endured what Brundle termed “one of the worst weekends of his career,” qualifying a lowly 12th and finishing the race in the same position without ever threatening to move forward.
It was a performance devoid of spark, one that left fans and pundits alike – and perhaps Hamilton himself – questioning whether the seven-time world champion’s fairytale move to Maranello is fast becoming a cautionary tale of legacy misjudged.
"A Difficult Place Personally"
For Brundle, Hamilton’s demeanor was as telling as his lack of pace. The former F1 driver noted the Scuderia driver’s visible emotional fatigue – both in and out of the car – and his seeming disconnect from the battle unfolding on track.
“He's clearly in a difficult place personally, and during the race he would finish in that same 12th position, never really showing signs of progress,” Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports column.
“He sat in the car in parc ferme post-race for what seemed an age, was very downbeat in interviews again, and then declined to attend a stewards' enquiry about a rather ambitious move Max Verstappen made on him during the race in the blind and fast Turn Four, in which Lewis chose to drive off the road to avoid contact.”
That particular moment was symbolic of Hamilton’s current plight – a reluctant, perhaps even defeated response to a challenge he once would have met with ferocity.
According to Brundle, Hamilton “didn't want to contest the incident and conceded via his team, but Max did attend the meeting with a rational explanation from his viewpoint, and avoided a penalty.”
The contrast between the two former title rivals was striking. Verstappen still fiercely defending his turf. Hamilton quietly stepping aside.
"I simply can't see him enduring two more seasons"
Hamilton’s own remarks over the Hungarian weekend only deepened concerns. After qualifying, he stunned reporters by branding himself “useless” and suggesting that Ferrari might want to consider “another driver.”
When pressed post-race, his response was ominous: “When you have a feeling, you have a feeling. There's a lot going on in the background that is not great.”
Brundle, not one to indulge in melodrama, offered a stark prediction if Hamilton’s form – and morale – doesn’t rebound.
“It's painful to observe this great champion in so much strife,” Brundle admitted. “And we have to expect that he can weather the storm and return to form given his talent and experience, but otherwise I simply can't see him enduring two more seasons at Ferrari, or anywhere else, like this.”
The only glimmer of optimism emerged in Hamilton’s comments during Ferrari’s internal debrief, where he expressed a desire to use the summer break to “reset and re-energise.”
Even Brundle acknowledged the importance of the timing: “[It] couldn’t be more timely.”
But the damage, both mechanical and emotional, appears extensive. A driver once synonymous with dominance now seems adrift in a sea of red, with Brundle’s commentary capturing what many are thinking: the Hamilton-Ferrari era, so full of hope just months ago, may already be cracking under the pressure of expectation and the weight of reality.
As Formula 1 enters its summer pause, the paddock can only wait and wonder: will Lewis Hamilton return from the break renewed – or resigned?
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