Hamilton Voices Frustration; Ferrari Responds

Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur addressed Lewis Hamilton’s disheartened remarks concerning his performance. Hamilton, a seven-time champion, had expressed feeling ‘useless’ after qualifying 12th, while his teammate Charles Leclerc secured pole position, even suggesting Ferrari might ‘need to change driver.’

Hamilton’s sentiments echoed on Sunday, reiterating his disappointment. Vasseur, questioned about motivating Hamilton during the summer break, asserted that Hamilton’s frustration did not equate to a lack of motivation.

“I don’t need to motivate him. He’s frustrated, not demotivated. It’s a different situation,” Vasseur stated. He contextualized the driver’s remarks, comparing them to the passionate outbursts of athletes in other sports. “I understand the frustration. We are all frustrated.”

Vasseur acknowledged the difficulty of Hamilton’s position, particularly when juxtaposed with his teammate’s success. “When you are a seven-time world champion and your teammate is in pole position, and you are out in Q2, it’s tough.”

He further explained the nuances of the qualifying rounds, pointing out Hamilton’s earlier performance. “He was in front of Charles in Q1… We are not far away to have the two cars out in Q2… Honestly, the gap was not 1.2 seconds yesterday. But I can understand the frustration from Lewis. This is normal.”