The 2025 Formula 1 summer break has not started in the most positive or relaxing way for Lewis Hamilton, especially given that this is his first season as a Scuderia Ferrari driver. The British seven-time World Champion entered the holiday period following a disappointing result at the most recent Hungarian Grand Prix — a circuit where he has historically enjoyed remarkable success throughout his career.
However, this year the story was very different. Lewis Hamilton suffered an early elimination in Q2 during qualifying, a result that left him starting from a lowly grid position. He ultimately finished the race in 12th place, well outside the points and far from the standard expected of a driver of his calibre.
To make matters more surprising, immediately after the qualifying session, Lewis Hamilton made a remark that caught fans and commentators off guard. The Ferrari driver openly described himself as “useless” — a self-assessment that quickly became a talking point within the paddock and among the media.
An attitude of resignation
While many recognise the challenges Lewis Hamilton is currently facing in adapting to Ferrari’s car and competing in a highly competitive field, his self-critical statement did not sit well with Günther Steiner, the former Team Principal of the Haas Formula 1 team. For Günther Steiner, hearing such words from a driver who has been crowned World Champion seven times was particularly disappointing.
Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, the 60-year-old Italian manager questioned how someone with Lewis Hamilton’s credentials could make such a declaration. “How can you, as a seven-time World Champion, come out and say: ‘I’m useless’?” he asked. Steiner made it clear that he was not interested in debating Hamilton’s driving performance in that specific race, acknowledging that every driver faces difficulties at certain points in their career.
He reflected on the reality that struggles are part of life, admitting that even he continues to face challenges in his own professional journey. However, Steiner stressed that publicly declaring oneself “useless” projects the wrong mindset. In his view, such words give the impression of surrender and defeat — an “attitude of resignation” that he personally dislikes.
A mindset unworthy of a seven-time champion
Günther Steiner went further, arguing that this type of behaviour does not reflect the mental strength that should characterise a driver who has achieved the highest accolade in motorsport multiple times. He explained that it risks making people feel pity rather than respect for the driver.
“If I were a seven-time World Champion, I would have enough self-confidence to know that I am not useless,” Steiner continued. “I would simply accept that I need to work harder and focus on regaining my enthusiasm. Just a few weeks ago, Lewis Hamilton was in the garage with the engineers, telling them what to do to improve the car, and now he comes back saying ‘I’m useless’. He should focus on what he does best — driving a racing car — because he is good at it, and the fact remains that he is a seven-time World Champion.”
Günther Steiner’s remarks underline the importance of mental resilience and self-belief in Formula 1. For him, Lewis Hamilton’s extraordinary career and proven ability on track should be enough to remind the driver — and everyone else — that a difficult weekend does not erase years of skill, talent, and achievement.
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