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Lewis Hamilton didn't hold back after a frustrating qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, labelling himself "absolutely useless" and even suggesting Ferrari might need to "change driver."
The seven-time world champion was knocked out in Q2, managing only 12th place on the grid. Meanwhile, his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc pulled off a shock pole position, the team's first of the season, ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
"It's me every time," Hamilton said bluntly to Sky Sports after the session. "I'm useless, absolutely useless. The team has no problem. You've seen the car is on pole. So we probably need to change driver."
His frustration was clear from the moment he crossed the line. Over team radio, he muttered, "Every time, every time," before walking off to the Ferrari motorhome, gloves in hand, visibly disappointed.
This isn't the first time Hamilton has had a tough Saturday lately. He struggled in both sprint and full qualifying in Belgium the previous weekend and admitted that even before qualifying in Hungary, he never felt in the mix. "Not once this weekend did I feel I had it," he told reporters.
Hamilton's move to Ferrari was one of the biggest stories of the season, but it's been anything but smooth. He's yet to appear on a Grand Prix podium this year, with his best result a sprint win in China.
Hungary, a track where Hamilton has won a record eight times, was expected to offer some relief. But instead, it added to a string of underwhelming results. "I don't think anything can help me right now," he said when asked if rain could shake things up on race day.
Leclerc, on the other hand, was just as surprised as everyone else by his pole. "Today is a day where I don't understand anything anymore about the sport," he said. "Qualifying felt horrible. I just did a clean lap and somehow, it was enough."
With Ferrari on pole and Hamilton stuck in 12th, all eyes will be on Sunday's race to see if the Brit can turn things around or if the struggles continue.
