Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton at a crossroads: self-criticism and speculation over his F1 career. Lewis Hamilton expressed strong self-criticism after a difficult Hungarian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton was highly self-critical following the Hungarian Grand Prix, expressing the intense pressure he feels to perform well and revealing the first signs of doubts about his future in Formula 1. After a difficult qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he ended up in 12th position, Lewis Hamilton used very harsh words toward himself, admitting to feeling “useless” and suggesting that Ferrari “might need to change driver.” These strong statements reveal his inner uncertainty regarding his current form and his continuing role within the Ferrari team in the near future. However, he showed a small sign of recovery after the race by emphasizing his determination to come back stronger after the summer break.

The British driver openly admitted to having driven terribly and acknowledged the difficulty he is experiencing in adapting to the Ferrari SF-25, which itself has not been performing well this season. Hamilton admitted, “this is the toughest season of my entire career,” and the statistics underline how much he is struggling in comparison to his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc. The internal team rivalry is fierce: Leclerc has dominated qualifying sessions with a 10-4 advantage and boasts five podium finishes so far this year, while Lewis Hamilton has yet to reach the podium and trails by as much as 30 points in the drivers’ championship. The pressure on the British champion is immense, and given the limits of the current SF-25 car, a stronger reaction was expected from a champion of Lewis Hamilton’s caliber.

Speculation and rumors about his future are already circulating. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has spoken out in defense of his former driver, with whom he shared an era of dominance. Wolff stressed that Lewis Hamilton remains “the greatest of all time” and “still has unfinished business in Formula 1,” but added that this will only be possible “if he has a reliable car.” These words express confidence in Hamilton’s talent, which is beyond doubt, but also underline the urgent need for him to regain top form as soon as possible to avoid any other scenarios that might jeopardize his career.

Bernie Ecclestone has weighed in on the matter with particularly harsh comments in an interview with The Telegraph. He stated bluntly, “Hamilton needs to retire. Now. He is doing what he has always done. He needs to stop. He should have done it some time ago,” casting strong doubts on Hamilton’s future not only at Ferrari but also in Formula 1 over the coming years. The impact of Lewis Hamilton’s self-critical statements could resonate deeply within the Maranello team, potentially opening the door to doubts and a search for alternatives. As journalist Pino Allievi speculated, “from a champion satisfied with seven world titles, anything could be expected. Ferrari is therefore forced to look around, and among the top drivers, there is one who must immediately be considered: Max Verstappen.”