Lewis Hamilton appeared visibly dejected when addressing the media following a disappointing weekend at the Hungaroring circuit in Budapest. The seven-time world champion was eliminated early in qualifying for the second consecutive race, narrowly missing Q3 by just a tenth of a second behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
During his post-qualifying media session, Hamilton displayed an unusually uncharacteristic and subdued demeanor. His comments were candid and blunt, describing his own performance as “useless” and controversially suggesting that Ferrari might need to consider changing drivers. This rare outburst highlighted the struggles Hamilton has faced during his turbulent first season with the Scuderia, which so far has produced only a single Sprint pole and victory, but no podium finishes.
Despite the difficulties, Lewis Hamilton’s former team principal Toto Wolff remains confident that the British driver still possesses the qualities to succeed in Formula 1. Meanwhile, former Red Bull racer Vitantonio Liuzzi, speaking to the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, identified three key ways in which Hamilton’s advancing age is impacting his performance on and off the track.
Liuzzi pointed out that Lewis Hamilton, alongside Fernando Alonso who recently turned 44, is one of only two drivers competing in Formula 1 over the age of 40. Should the Briton secure another championship with Ferrari, he would become the first driver since Jack Brabham in 1966 to win a title at such an age. However, questions remain about the ability of drivers to maintain peak performance as they grow older. Liuzzi elaborated on the specific challenges Hamilton faces related to age.
According to Liuzzi, Hamilton’s vast experience remains a significant asset to any team, but he warned that winning races and championships becomes increasingly difficult with age. He emphasized that the decline is not only physical but also affects mental sharpness and reflexes, which are crucial in Formula 1 racing. Liuzzi stressed that these factors will inevitably impact Hamilton’s performance as time progresses.
Despite these challenges, Liuzzi believes Lewis Hamilton’s competitive drive has not diminished. He noted that Hamilton has nothing left to prove in his career but remains motivated, as evidenced by his visible frustration during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. This hunger to succeed persists, though age undeniably presents additional obstacles.
Meanwhile, questions about Ferrari’s technical issues at the Hungarian Grand Prix continue to linger, as Charles Leclerc’s race unfolded with similar difficulties. The Monegasque driver experienced a significant drop in pace that cost him a podium finish and resulted in a five-second time penalty.
After the race, Charles Leclerc cited a vague “chassis problem” as the root cause of his performance decline. However, Mercedes driver George Russell speculated that Ferrari might have been adjusting tyre pressures and running lower engine modes in an attempt to manage excessive plank wear—a measure designed to prevent cars from running too low and damaging the wooden skid blocks under the chassis.
F1 technical analyst Gary Anderson rejected George Russell’s hypothesis, arguing that such drastic changes mid-race would be too risky and unlikely to occur. The debate around Ferrari’s handling of these issues adds to the uncertainty surrounding their 2025 campaign as both drivers face ongoing challenges on track.
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