Lewis Hamilton drops bombshell after qualifying 12th for Hungarian Grand Prix: ‘I'm useless’

Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton described himself as “useless” after qualifying in the 12th position for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Hamilton failed to secure a top-10 spot in the grid while Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc surged ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, stunning the season’s leaders to seize pole for Sunday's race at the Hungaroring.

“I’m useless,” said the 40-year-old British F1 star after a disappointing qualifying session.

“Absolutely useless. The team has no problem. You’ve seen the car on pole so they probably need to change driver,” Hamilton added.

oh my god. 💔 pic.twitter.com/Bg1rIyqTXr

— deni (@fiagirly) August 2, 2025

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Hamilton has had a forgettable debut season so far with Ferrari after bringing an 11-year run with Mercedes, with whom he had won six of his seven world titles, to an end last December.

The Briton, who replaced Carlos Sainz Jr as Leclerc’s teammate, had finished 10th at the Australian Grand Prix in March in his first race for the ‘Prancing Horse’, and is yet to secure a podium this season – finishing fourth at Emilia-Romagna, Austria and Britain along the way.

Verstappen defends Hamilton

Hamilton, however, found support in four-time defending world champion Max Verstappen, who had denied him a record-breaking eighth world title in Abu Dhabi in 2021 with a controversial finish.

Verstappen, whose chances of collecting a fifth consecutive drivers’ title appear slim thanks to Piastri and Norris’ massive lead on the current standings, also ranted about his Red Bull car and team after qualifying eighth for the 14th race of the season.

“Looking at the whole weekend, I think we’re happy to be in Q3 because I’ve been more outside the top 10 than in it –- so, yeah, it’s been difficult this whole weekend,” said the Dutch driver.

“No grip, front and rear, and it was the same in qualifying so, for me, it was not really a shock. I just drove to what I already feel the whole weekend,” the 27-year-old, who has extended his stay at Red Bull till next year, added.