Lewis Hamilton endured a deeply disappointing weekend at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend in Budapest, both qualifying and finishing in 12th position. This result marked a low point for the seven-time world champion, matching Alain Prost’s record for the worst finish at the Hungaroring by a four-time or more world champion. Adding to Hamilton’s frustration was the fact that his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc claimed a surprise pole position, while Hamilton failed to progress beyond Q2 for the second consecutive race. The weekend proved to be a struggle for the 40-year-old as he was unable to extract competitive pace from Ferrari’s SF-25 car. During the race, Hamilton reportedly apologized over the team radio, expressing regret for costing Ferrari valuable points. As a result, Ferrari trailed McLaren by 299 points in the constructors’ championship going into the summer break.
Hamilton appeared visibly dejected throughout the weekend, even suggesting after qualifying that Ferrari should consider replacing him with another driver. He later reiterated his frustrations following the race, where he was unable to recover positions and finished outside the points-paying positions. With the summer break approaching, it is expected to be a crucial period for both Ferrari and Hamilton to address and resolve these ongoing performance issues. The British driver has struggled to adapt to the team’s environment and find the optimal balance with the SF-25.
Onboard footage reveals where Hamilton truly struggled during Hungarian GP qualifying
The Ferrari SF-25 has presented challenges all season as the team seeks to find the ideal operating window. After showing promise in Shanghai, where both Hamilton and Leclerc were disqualified—Hamilton for excessive plank wear and Leclerc for an underweight car—the team’s performance has stagnated. Fundamental issues related to ride height have hampered Ferrari’s ability to maximize the car’s potential. While the introduction of a new rear suspension is designed to help the team run the car lower and more effectively, Charles Leclerc has adapted more quickly to the update than Hamilton.
One of Lewis Hamilton’s particular challenges lies in his trail braking technique, which Formula 1 analyst Sam Bird has identified as a potential sticking point that Ferrari might struggle to address. Despite the upgrades to the SF-25 that Hamilton was eager to exploit, he has yet to fully harmonize with the car. This was clearly evident in his onboard footage from the Hungarian GP qualifying session.
During an analysis on F1 Nation, nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen observed that Lewis Hamilton was visibly ‘fighting’ the car, especially in the final three corners of the qualifying lap. This battle with the SF-25 ultimately cost him a spot in Q3 by a mere 15 thousandths of a second.
Understanding Hamilton’s visible dejection after the Hungarian Grand Prix
Hamilton’s remarks and demeanor throughout the Hungarian weekend were a stark contrast to the hopeful expectations at the start of the season. His move to Ferrari was widely anticipated as a new beginning, a chance to rejuvenate his career. Instead, it has unfolded as a challenging and frustrating period.
After the race at the Hungaroring, Lewis Hamilton was seen sitting motionless in his car for over a minute in parc fermé, an image that raised concerns about his mental state. Ferrari will see this as a warning sign, underscoring the urgent need for a reset during the summer break to address the team’s and driver’s difficulties.
The root of Hamilton’s discontent appears to be his perception of being ‘useless’ when it comes to developing the Ferrari car, which differs from his confidence in his driving skills. This feeling contributed to his surprising suggestion that Ferrari might be better off replacing him. Veteran F1 analyst Peter Windsor has commented that Hamilton must become ‘hyper-focused’ on his role as a racing driver if he is to rebound in the second half of the 2025 season.
Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve has also weighed in, suggesting that Hamilton is gradually coming to terms with the significant cultural and operational differences he has encountered at Ferrari compared to his previous tenure at Mercedes. Villeneuve believes that a substantial effort will be required behind the scenes to resolve the severe difficulties Lewis Hamilton has faced throughout 2025.
As the championship resumes after the summer break, all eyes will be on whether Hamilton and Ferrari can overcome these challenges and rediscover the form and synergy that both the driver and team desperately need.
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