What is Happening to Lewis Hamilton?

Lewis Hamilton has had a rough ride with Ferrari lately, particularly during the Hungarian Grand Prix, raising questions across the F1 world: What exactly is going on with the seven-time world champion?

“Just Useless” – Hamilton’s Own Words After Qualifying

On Saturday, Hamilton qualified 12th, calling his own performance “just useless”. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc secured pole position — a tough pill for any elite driver to swallow.

Hamilton later finished in 12th place as well, while Leclerc slipped to fourth after battling the dominant McLarens for much of the race.

Frustration and Ferrari’s Strategy Misfire

Post-race, Hamilton cryptically noted, There’s a lot going on in the background that is not… great, though he remained optimistic about the car’s development.

Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur confirmed that their risky one-stop strategy on hard tyres “didn’t work.”

F1 Rumour Mill in Overdrive

With performance dips come rumours. Speculation swirled: was Hamilton ready to quit Ferrari, or even F1? He shut those down fast, saying he’ll return at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break.

“I’ll be back, yeah.” — Lewis Hamilton

Leclerc’s Pace Still Sets the Bar

Despite tough races, Hamilton acknowledged that Leclerc has performed strongly: “Charles has had a really strong run of the last two races. The car is progressing.”

Stats show Hamilton’s qualifying deficit is only 0.146s on average — not ideal, but not disastrous considering Leclerc is considered one of the fastest one-lap drivers on the grid.

Ground-Effect Cars and Driving Style Misfits

Hamilton has struggled to fully adapt to the ground-effect cars introduced in 2022, which haven’t suited his late-braking style. Nevertheless, there’s no lack of determination or effort.

As Vasseur put it: “He’s demanding — but that’s why he’s a champion.”

Conclusion: A Dip, Not a Demise

So what is happening to Lewis Hamilton? A tough stint, yes — but his commitment remains strong, and his return to form may be just around the corner.

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