Lewis Hamilton’s Frustration Deepens at Ferrari as Hungarian GP Extends His Longest Podium Drought
The once-optimistic start to Lewis Hamilton’s tenure at Scuderia Ferrari has quickly given way to one of the most challenging stretches of his illustrious Formula 1 career. After a dismal showing at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, the seven-time World Champion finds himself in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position—deep in a prolonged period without podium success, and grappling with the realities of life at Ferrari.
Hamilton, who fulfilled his childhood ambition by joining Ferrari this season, has endured a harsh awakening rather than the dream partnership many anticipated. Now 40 years old, the British driver has not stood on a Grand Prix podium since securing second place at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix with Mercedes—marking a staggering 16 consecutive races without a top-three finish. This ongoing drought represents the longest of Hamilton’s 19-year Formula 1 career.
Historically, Hamilton had always achieved at least one podium within the first 10 races of a season. However, 2025 has rewritten that trend in the most difficult way. After 14 Grands Prix this year, the Stevenage-born driver sits sixth in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship with just 109 points—his lowest tally at this stage of a season since the sport adopted its current points system in 2010. By comparison, his previous worst total after 14 rounds was 142 points in 2012.
Hamilton’s most recent disappointment came at the Hungaroring, where he qualified 12th and finished the race in the same position. The underwhelming result ensured another weekend outside the top 10 in qualifying—a troubling fourth such instance this season where he failed to reach Q3. Meanwhile, teammate Charles Leclerc claimed Ferrari’s first pole position of 2025, only compounding the frustration on Hamilton’s side of the garage.
After the Hungarian GP qualifying session, Hamilton reportedly referred to himself as “useless”—a rare moment of public self-criticism that raised eyebrows throughout the paddock. But while such comments might suggest a deep sense of doubt, some insiders believe Hamilton’s words were calculated rather than spontaneous.
Former F1 driver and motorsport analyst Christian Danner, for example, questioned the sincerity behind Hamilton’s apparent self-deprecation. According to Danner, it was unlikely that a driver of Hamilton’s pedigree truly believed he had lost his ability. He proposed that Hamilton’s remarks may have been intended to draw attention to larger issues within Ferrari rather than to express genuine doubt about his own performance.
Danner suggested that Hamilton was using the moment to highlight internal concerns at the Scuderia. He interpreted Hamilton’s comment that Ferrari “might need to change driver” not as a serious suggestion that he should be replaced, but rather as a veiled message to the team’s leadership in Maranello. The implication, Danner argued, was that Hamilton wanted to make it clear to Ferrari—and to the public—that he was aware of deeper structural or technical shortcomings that were hindering performance, not merely personal failings.
Danner reportedly remarked that Hamilton’s exaggerated self-portrayal seemed designed to send a signal, rather than reflect his true mindset. He believed Hamilton aimed to convey that he fully understood the situation and was frustrated by factors beyond his control—possibly related to the team’s direction or the development path of the SF-25.
Behind closed doors, Hamilton was said to have congratulated Leclerc for securing pole position in Budapest during Ferrari’s post-session debrief. However, he also voiced his frustrations during the same internal meeting, allegedly stating that Ferrari might benefit from a driver change—though not with the intent of stepping aside himself. Instead, the comment was likely a symbolic gesture, emphasizing the need for broader changes within the team.
As the 2025 season reaches its midpoint, speculation continues to swirl around Hamilton’s integration at Ferrari and his level of influence over the development of the SF-25. Sources close to the team have suggested that Hamilton feels less empowered in shaping the technical direction than he had been at Mercedes, where he enjoyed a more central role in car development.
It has been suggested that Hamilton’s feelings of being “useless” may stem not from a lack of driving performance but from an inability to significantly impact the progression of Ferrari’s current package. After 14 rounds, his average finishing position stands at P6.5 from 13 race completions. Even when including his disqualification from the Chinese Grand Prix—a race where he won the Sprint event from pole—his average result remains unchanged.
Aside from a third-place finish in the Miami Sprint, Hamilton’s 2025 campaign has largely been devoid of standout moments. This string of underwhelming results has left the British veteran increasingly disillusioned with his current circumstances.
Ferrari legend Jean Alesi has weighed in on the situation as well, expressing skepticism over Hamilton’s remarks in Hungary. Alesi opined that a figure like Michael Schumacher—who played a pivotal role in Ferrari’s early-2000s dominance—would never have suggested that the team replace him. According to Alesi, such comments risk undermining the cohesion and long-term trust between driver and team.
The former Ferrari driver also emphasized that successful partnerships are built on resilience and constructive feedback, not dramatic public statements. Alesi believes that Lewis Hamilton, if truly committed to helping Ferrari return to championship-winning form, must find a way to lead through difficult periods without casting doubt on his own position within the team.
As Formula 1 enters its summer break, Hamilton and Ferrari both find themselves at a crossroads. While Leclerc’s pole in Hungary offered a glimmer of hope for the Maranello-based squad, Hamilton’s performance—and his public demeanor—paint a more complicated picture. With the championship set to resume at the Dutch Grand Prix in late August, all eyes will be on whether Ferrari can make tangible improvements and whether Hamilton can rediscover the form—and mindset—that made him one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.
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