Lewis Hamilton faces behind-the-scenes challenges after disappointing 12th-place finish in Hungarian Grand Prix
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 04, 2025, 23:15 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Lewis Hamilton revealed ongoing behind-the-scenes struggles after a disappointing 12th-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix, adding to a frustrating weekend. Despite expressing frustration and hinting at challenges, Hamilton denied losing his love for racing and intends to reset during the summer break. Ferrari, his future team, also faces inconsistency issues, as highlighted by Charles Leclerc's fluctuating performance.
Lewis Hamilton revealed Sunday that he is dealing with undisclosed challenges “in the background” after finishing 12th in the Hungarian Grand Prix, capping off another difficult Formula 1 weekend for the seven-time world champion.
Hamilton’s remarks came just a day after he called himself “absolutely useless” following a qualifying session that also placed him in 12th. The underwhelming performance sparked speculation about his future at Ferrari, which he will join next season, and prompted Hamilton to express visible frustration with his current form.
“When you have a feeling, you have a feeling. There’s a lot going on in the background that is not great,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1 after the race. When asked whether he had lost his love for racing, the 39-year-old driver replied simply, “No.”
Hamilton’s race lacked major highlights, though a brief moment drew attention when he was seemingly forced off the track by Max Verstappen. Race stewards investigated the incident and ruled that no punishment was warranted. A representative for Ferrari, speaking on Hamilton’s behalf, confirmed there was no contact and noted that Hamilton “chose not to attempt to remain on track,” according to the FIA stewards' report.
Hamilton waived his right to attend the hearing.
In a post-race statement issued by Ferrari, Hamilton said he intends to use the upcoming four-week summer break to reset ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
“It’s been a challenging weekend and one to move on from,” Hamilton said. “We weren’t able to make the progress we hoped for, but I’m grateful for the effort everyone in the team put in throughout the weekend. Now we head into the break. I’ll be using the time to reset, recharge, and come back stronger. I’m not where I want to be yet, but the fight’s not over — don’t count me out.”
Hamilton’s struggles stood in sharp contrast to teammate Charles Leclerc, who started on pole position but faded late in the race and finished fourth after a heated battle with Mercedes’ George Russell. Leclerc had initially accused his team of ignoring his feedback and described the car as “undrivable” in a radio message during the race.
However, the Monégasque driver later walked back his criticism, telling Sky Sports, “I spoke too quickly, I guess,” and explained he had been informed post-race of a chassis issue that contributed to his loss of pace.
The weekend’s results underscore Ferrari’s ongoing inconsistency in race execution and car reliability—challenges that will need to be addressed before Hamilton joins the team in 2025. As the sport enters its midseason break, both Hamilton and Ferrari appear focused on regrouping for a stronger finish to the year.
Hamilton’s remarks came just a day after he called himself “absolutely useless” following a qualifying session that also placed him in 12th. The underwhelming performance sparked speculation about his future at Ferrari, which he will join next season, and prompted Hamilton to express visible frustration with his current form.
“When you have a feeling, you have a feeling. There’s a lot going on in the background that is not great,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1 after the race. When asked whether he had lost his love for racing, the 39-year-old driver replied simply, “No.”
Hamilton’s race lacked major highlights, though a brief moment drew attention when he was seemingly forced off the track by Max Verstappen. Race stewards investigated the incident and ruled that no punishment was warranted. A representative for Ferrari, speaking on Hamilton’s behalf, confirmed there was no contact and noted that Hamilton “chose not to attempt to remain on track,” according to the FIA stewards' report.
Hamilton waived his right to attend the hearing.
In a post-race statement issued by Ferrari, Hamilton said he intends to use the upcoming four-week summer break to reset ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
“It’s been a challenging weekend and one to move on from,” Hamilton said. “We weren’t able to make the progress we hoped for, but I’m grateful for the effort everyone in the team put in throughout the weekend. Now we head into the break. I’ll be using the time to reset, recharge, and come back stronger. I’m not where I want to be yet, but the fight’s not over — don’t count me out.”
Hamilton’s struggles stood in sharp contrast to teammate Charles Leclerc, who started on pole position but faded late in the race and finished fourth after a heated battle with Mercedes’ George Russell. Leclerc had initially accused his team of ignoring his feedback and described the car as “undrivable” in a radio message during the race.
However, the Monégasque driver later walked back his criticism, telling Sky Sports, “I spoke too quickly, I guess,” and explained he had been informed post-race of a chassis issue that contributed to his loss of pace.
The weekend’s results underscore Ferrari’s ongoing inconsistency in race execution and car reliability—challenges that will need to be addressed before Hamilton joins the team in 2025. As the sport enters its midseason break, both Hamilton and Ferrari appear focused on regrouping for a stronger finish to the year.