Lewis Hamilton’s difficult start to life at Ferrari took another frustrating turn after the seven-time world champion qualified 12th for the Hungarian Grand Prix. In contrast, his teammate Charles Leclerc stunned the paddock by securing pole position.

Despite boasting a remarkable record at the Hungaroring with eight wins and nine pole positions, Hamilton was visibly dejected after Saturday’s session. The Briton fell just 15 thousandths of a second short of progressing further in qualifying, a margin that only added to his disappointment.

On the team radio, an emotional Hamilton did not hold back, saying, “It’s me every time. I’m useless, absolutely useless.” Speaking to Sky Sports, he added, “The team have no problem. You’ve seen the car is on pole. So we probably need to change driver.”

Since making his high-profile move to Ferrari earlier this year, Hamilton has yet to claim a single podium finish. Meanwhile, Leclerc has consistently outperformed him, racking up five top-three finishes in the 13 races so far this season.

Hamilton was also self-critical when speaking to F1 TV, acknowledging, “I drove terribly. It is what it is.”

“There will be some tears at some point,” Hamilton confessed. “The last god knows how many seasons have been hard in their own way. This one has definitely been the most intense one, I would say, just from a work perspective.”

He also opened up about the difficulty of adjusting to life at Maranello. “Integrating into a new culture and into a new team… it’s not gone smoothly in all areas, and it’s been a real battle.”

As Ferrari celebrate Leclerc’s pole, Hamilton will be left to reflect on another setback in a season that continues to test the legendary driver’s patience and resolve.

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