Lewis Hamilton opens up about his love for racing after tough Hungarian GP ends without points

Lewis Hamilton Endures Another Tough Weekend at Ferrari Amid Point-less Hungarian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton faced yet another challenging race weekend with Scuderia Ferrari at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, continuing what has been a difficult debut season with the Italian team. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion has found it far more difficult to adapt to life at Ferrari than he initially anticipated, and the current results reflect a campaign well below expectations.

Heading into the summer break, Hamilton finds himself sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings—an underwhelming position for a driver of his calibre. The break may offer a much-needed pause for reflection as he looks to unlock greater potential from the SF-25, Ferrari’s 2025 challenger, which has so far failed to deliver the consistency and competitiveness he had hoped for.

Although Ferrari’s mid-season upgrades appear to have benefited teammate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton has struggled to find similar gains. The car’s new parts have not translated into increased pace for the British driver, leading some to speculate that he may need additional track time and more in-depth understanding of the upgrades before he can extract their full performance potential.

Strategic decisions further complicated Hamilton’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Ferrari opted to start him on the hard compound tyre, a move that ultimately placed him in heavy traffic during crucial race phases. This tactical call, seen by some as a misjudgment, left Hamilton on the defensive for much of the event and severely limited his ability to progress through the field.

These repeated setbacks may be contributing to a developing driving habit that some believe will be difficult for Ferrari’s engineers to address. The constant need to compensate for an underperforming car has arguably begun to influence Hamilton’s driving style in ways that could be counterproductive over the long term.

Lewis Hamilton Responds to Questions About His Love for Racing After Frustrating Weekend

Following a disappointing finish outside the points, questions were raised about Hamilton’s mindset and motivation. With a contract already in place through the upcoming 2026 regulation changes, some wondered whether the passion that fueled his earlier successes remained intact.

Sky Sports F1 asked Hamilton directly whether he still loved racing, particularly in light of a visible outburst following Saturday’s qualifying session. Hamilton responded by saying that some of his emotional reactions stemmed from frustrations behind the scenes, implying that not everything within the team was functioning optimally. While he did not elaborate on the specifics, he acknowledged that despite the ongoing difficulties, his love for racing remained undiminished.

Teammate Charles Leclerc, who had secured pole position in Budapest, might have appreciated the high praise Hamilton gave him during the weekend, describing Leclerc’s performance as exceptional. However, Hamilton’s own race left him mired in 12th place and questioning how and why his struggles with the SF-25 have persisted. Even he has seemed perplexed at times by just how elusive a good result has become.

Hamilton’s Driving Still Impresses Despite Struggles with Ferrari Car

Though Hamilton has openly admitted he does not yet feel fully comfortable with the car—particularly under braking—there were moments during the Hungarian Grand Prix that showcased his enduring skill. In 2025, braking performance has consistently been a weak point for the Ferrari driver, undermining his confidence during key moments.

During the race, Hamilton found himself in multiple close battles within the midfield, one of which featured an unexpected opponent: Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver also struggled throughout the weekend, and at one point attempted a daring overtake on Hamilton. The Ferrari driver took evasive action to avoid contact, and the move was later investigated by the stewards, although no penalty was issued.

Sky Sports F1 pundit and former F1 driver Anthony Davidson praised the Briton’s spatial awareness during the incident, noting that the seven-time world champion displayed extraordinary reflexes and precision under pressure. Davidson highlighted how Hamilton appeared to anticipate Verstappen’s position even while navigating a high-speed corner, describing it as “unbelievable” given the pace and intensity of the situation.

Despite his ongoing battle with the SF-25, Lewis Hamilton’s instincts and racecraft remain as sharp as ever. What he now needs is a car capable of matching his ability—a goal that both he and Ferrari will be eager to pursue more aggressively after the summer break.