‘Unbelievable’ Lewis Hamilton produced one ‘out of character’ moment after Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying

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Lewis Hamilton was lost for words after he dropped out of qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, while teammate Charles Leclerc earned an unexpected pole.

The seven-time world champion cut a dejected figure as he spoke to the media, describing how the session was just one big struggle for him after a difficult weekend.

Hamilton looked closer to Leclerc in FP3, but when it came down to qualifying, the seven-time world champion could only manage 12th position as everyone else on the track improved their lap times.

Discussing how Hamilton responded to media on the BBC Chequered Flag podcast, journalist Jenny Gow said he produced one “out of character moment” in the pen after qualifying.

Lewis Hamilton ‘absolutely dejected’ after Hungarian GP qualifying

Hamilton could be heard frustrated over team radio when he completed his lap, telling the team: “Every time, every time.”

He could be seen on TV climbing out of his car and brandishing his gloves over his helmet as he walked back to the Ferrari garage.

Gow also noted that she struggled to hear Hamilton when he spoke to the media in the pen after the session.

“You know when Lewis has a bad qualifying or a bad race. You kind of fear what’s going to happen. You almost don’t want to do the interview. His head was down; it had been down all weekend. He hadn’t been as energetic, sprightly, or feeling good,” said Gow.

“It’s so out of character with where he can be, but the quotes that he said were quite unbelievable. I was struggling even to hear him, he was so quiet and softly spoken.

“It was almost as if he was going into himself, and to say he’s ‘absolutely useless’, we’re talking about one of the most successful racing drivers of all time. It’s taken 14 rounds to get to this point, and he is absolutely dejected.”

Lewis Hamilton’s struggles at Ferrari in first half of 2025

It was meant to be one of the defining moves of the 2025 season off the back of near-title success for Ferrari, but so far Hamilton’s campaign at the Italian squad has been difficult.

After 12 years at Mercedes the seven-time world champion has found the transition difficult, with adapting to the new car proving to be a big challenge.

Ferrari have introduced upgrades in the last couple of races, but they have not made the impact that is needed to bring Hamilton closer to the front of the pack.

He has yet to make the podium in a Grand Prix this year, with Hamilton now on course to equal Gilles Villeneuve’s Ferrari record for most races without scoring a podium.