Ferrari takes notice of Lewis Hamilton’s reaction immediately after F1 Hungaroring race

Lewis Hamilton’s Troubling Post-Race Behavior at the Hungarian Grand Prix Raises Concerns for Ferrari

Throughout the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, Lewis Hamilton’s demeanor was far from what Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur would have hoped to see. While Hamilton had demonstrated moments of brilliance at the previous race in Spa, where he gained an impressive eleven positions to score valuable points, his mood in Hungary reflected growing frustration and disappointment.

At Spa-Francorchamps, Hamilton had been widely praised for an astute strategic call to pit one lap earlier than many of his competitors, which allowed him to recover lost ground despite a poor qualifying performance. However, his qualifying struggles continued into Hungary, leaving him with a daunting task on race day.

The Hungaroring, a track at which Hamilton holds a strong record—including eight race wins and nine pole positions—was expected to offer him a chance to regain momentum. Yet, the 40-year-old driver endured one of his worst race weekends since joining Ferrari.

In fact, Hamilton equaled a record previously held by Alain Prost, finishing 12th at the Hungarian GP—the lowest finishing position recorded by any Formula 1 World Champion with four or more titles. This marked his worst result of the 2025 season and was the first time he failed to score points in a race weekend for Ferrari.

After the race, Hamilton issued a radio apology to his team, acknowledging that he had let them down by finishing significantly behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc. However, Fred Vasseur was quick to publicly defend Hamilton, emphasizing the driver’s commitment despite the difficult weekend.

What has caused even greater concern within Ferrari is Lewis Hamilton’s behavior immediately following the race finish. According to a detailed report from Formula1.it, as Hamilton returned to the pit lane, he remained completely still and silent inside his car for over a minute before communicating with the team or exiting the vehicle. This unusual pause suggested a moment of deep reflection or emotional fatigue.

During a post-race interview with Sky Sports F1, the Briton was asked whether he still loved racing—a question prompted by the despondency he showed in the media pen. While the 40-year-old has struggled with qualifying performances in recent seasons, especially during his final year at Mercedes, he had never previously voiced thoughts about being replaced. This context made his radio comment after qualifying about possibly swapping drivers particularly striking and unusual.

Lewis Hamilton’s subsequent apology was directed at race engineer Riccardo Adami and the Ferrari crew, who have supported him through a challenging start to life at Maranello. The acknowledgment highlighted the gap in performance between Hamilton and Leclerc, adding to the pressure on the seven-time world champion.

Looking ahead, there are currently no indications that Hamilton will leave Ferrari during the summer break or at the end of the season. His contract with the Italian team runs until the conclusion of 2026, with an option to extend for an additional year depending on the success of the upcoming regulation changes.

Nevertheless, Formula 1 pundit Martin Brundle has expressed skepticism about Hamilton’s willingness to remain with Ferrari if his performance and results do not improve significantly. Even if Ferrari does manage to develop a race-winning car, Hamilton will need to find a way to outpace Charles Leclerc to secure his position.

Adding to the speculation, former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone commented on Hamilton’s current struggles during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Ecclestone suggested that if Hamilton were to decide to retire or leave Ferrari, the team should consider signing promising young talent Isack Hadjar as a replacement. Such a move would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the driver market, though, at this point, it seems highly unlikely.

As the 2025 season progresses toward its mid-year break, Ferrari will be closely monitoring Hamilton’s mental and physical resilience. The team will also be keen to see whether he can regain his confidence and recapture the form that once made him one of Formula 1’s most dominant champions.