Lewis Hamilton Endures Nightmare Hungarian GP as Ferrari Strategy Leaves Him Struggling in Traffic and Frustration Builds
Lewis Hamilton experienced one of his most difficult weekends of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, a circuit where he has historically dominated with ease. This time, however, things could not have gone worse. The seven-time world champion failed to progress into Q3 during qualifying and found himself trapped in heavy midfield traffic for much of the race. The summer break could not come soon enough for the British driver, who appeared visibly disheartened by another underwhelming weekend in Ferrari colours.
Hungaroring has often been described as one of Hamilton’s strongest tracks, with previous victories and pole positions showcasing his brilliance. But during this year’s race, his Ferrari SF-25 lacked the balance and responsiveness he needed. Meanwhile, his teammate Charles Leclerc showed that the car was capable of much more. The Monegasque driver secured pole position in Budapest and finished just off the podium in fourth, underlining the vehicle’s potential when the strategy and conditions align.
Despite being only fifth and sixth respectively in the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have managed to drag Ferrari into second place in the Constructors’ Championship. Their combined consistency has helped the team score valuable points, even though raw pace has frequently been lacking. However, Hamilton’s individual struggles have been glaring, particularly when compared to his teammate’s relative success.
One of Hamilton’s persistent difficulties has been his braking style. Observers have noted that he has yet to fully adapt his technique to Ferrari’s current car setup. This issue has emerged as a particular concern at circuits where braking stability and precision are crucial, such as the tight and technical Hungaroring.
Team principal Frédéric Vasseur reportedly had a different perspective on Lewis Hamilton’s performance issues during the weekend. While Hamilton seemed to suggest that a fundamental problem existed with the car—or perhaps the setup assigned to him—the French manager did not share that assessment. After qualifying, Hamilton had made a pointed remark suggesting a change of driver might be more effective, which hinted at rising tensions or frustration within the garage.
Former Formula E driver and commentator Sam Bird offered further insights into the situation. He indicated that Hamilton had been struggling with gear downshifts, something that became clear while reviewing the British driver’s onboard audio during Friday’s free practice sessions. Bird described the engine note and downshifting sequence as suboptimal and believed it was one of several indicators that Hamilton was not yet fully in sync with the SF-25.
Even recent upgrades brought by Ferrari to improve the car’s competitiveness have not been enough to give Hamilton the confidence or pace he requires. Bird noted that the Briton appeared to be struggling “all over the shop,” referencing multiple areas of discomfort, from braking to tyre management to overall race rhythm.
Adding to Hamilton’s woes was a strategic decision made by Ferrari that arguably doomed his race from the start. By opting to begin the Hungarian Grand Prix on the hard compound tyre, the team committed Hamilton to a long first stint—one that trapped him in the slower midfield traffic and eliminated any chance of gaining places through an undercut. Bird pointed out that this tyre strategy was always going to be a risk on a circuit like the Hungaroring, where overtaking is notoriously difficult and track position is vital.
He explained that such a strategy forced Hamilton into a reactive position, making it impossible to respond to the moves of other teams or take advantage of cleaner air ahead. This decision effectively removed him from any meaningful contention, despite his proven racecraft and experience.
The situation worsened when Lewis Hamilton, still circulating on worn hard tyres, became entangled in a wheel-to-wheel exchange with reigning World Champion Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver attempted an aggressive overtaking manoeuvre that forced Hamilton wide, costing both drivers time. Although the stewards reviewed the incident, no penalties were handed out.
For the Briton, however, the psychological impact may have been more significant than any lost seconds. Bird suggested that Hamilton would likely have been deeply frustrated by the move—not just because of the on-track consequences, but also due to the broader context of his difficult season. The Briton has often found himself racing among cars he would normally expect to be ahead of, and this altercation only served to highlight how far he has fallen from championship contention.
This growing sense of disillusionment has been a theme of Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 campaign with Ferrari. After making the high-profile switch from Mercedes, many had hoped the partnership would yield instant results. Instead, both Hamilton and Ferrari have struggled to align their expectations and deliver on their promise. The Hungarian Grand Prix may have underlined once again that the partnership remains a work in progress, and significant changes are still required if Hamilton is to challenge for race wins and titles in the red suit.
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