Lewis Hamilton was crestfallen after qualifying 13th for the Hungarian Grand Prix (Photo: Getty)

The seven-time champion endured another poor Saturday, qualifying 12th for the race at the Hungaroring, the final grand prix before Formula 1’s summer break.

To rub salt into the wound, Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc claimed a surprise pole position ahead of McLaren duo and championship contenders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

Hamilton had a tough start to the last grand prix in Belgium but recovered to score good points and could well do the same on Sunday at a track where he has won a record eight times.

But after learning his qualifying result, the 40-year-old was completely downtrodden, muttering: ‘Every time, every time,’ on the team radio.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he clarified he was referring to himself before giving a damning assessment of his performances: ‘It’s me every time.

‘I’m useless, absolutely useless. The team have no problem. You’ve seen the car’s on pole.

Hamilton is yet to finish on the podium since joining Ferrari (Photo: Getty)

‘So we probably need to change driver.’

He latter added to F1 TV: ‘I’m just useless. It clearly is [me].

‘I drove terribly. It is what it is.’

Hungarian Grand Prix starting grid

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
Lando Norris (McLaren)
George Russell (Mercedes)
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
Oliver Bearman (Haas)
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
Carlos Sainz Jr. (Williams)
Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
Esteban Ocon (Haas)
Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
Alexander Albon (Williams)

Hamilton fulfilled a life-long dream by joining Ferrari for 2025, with the aim of winning a record-breaking eighth F1 title.

But the dream move has turned into a nightmare, with the Brit struggling to get to grips with his car and suffering communication issues with his new engineer at the Italian team.

He’s yet to finish on the podium this season and currently sits sixth in the standings, 30 points behind Leclerc.

Charles Leclerc will start the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole (Photo: Getty)

On the contrary, the other side of the Ferrari garage was ecstatic after qualifying, with Leclerc stunned by his pole lap.

‘Mamma Mia! Today, I don’t understand anything in Formula 1,’ the jubilant Monegasque said.

‘Honestly, the whole qualifying has been extremely difficult. When I say extremely difficult, it’s not exaggerating. It was difficult for us to get to Q2, it was difficult for us to get to Q3.

‘Q3, the conditions changed a little bit. Everything became a lot trickier, and I knew I just had to do a clean lap to target third. At the end of the day, it’s pole position. I definitely did not expect that.

‘Honestly, I have no words. It’s probably one of the best pole positions I’ve ever had. It’s the most unexpected, for sure.’

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