Lewis Hamilton stated he was “simply ineffective” after qualifying twelfth for the Hungarian Grand Prix whereas his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc took pole place.
Hamilton did not progress past the second qualifying session after struggling for tempo in comparison with Leclerc all weekend.
Leclerc took Ferrari’s first grand prix pole place of the 12 months, though Hamilton received the Chinese language Grand Prix dash race from pole on the second occasion of the season.
A downcast Hamilton stated: “I drove terribly. It’s what it’s.”
He added: “I am simply ineffective,” and stated his lack of tempo was “nothing to do with the automotive”.
In Hungary, Hamilton was 0.247 seconds slower than Leclerc within the second a part of qualifying, by which he was knocked out and the Monegasque was sixth quickest.
Hamilton is 12-5 right down to Leclerc on their qualifying head-to-head this 12 months, at a median tempo distinction of 0.146secs.
His kind on Saturdays in 2025 continues the struggles in qualifying Hamilton had towards George Russell in his remaining 12 months at Mercedes final season.
Even so, his end in Hungary bucks a development by which he has typically been a lot nearer to Leclerc for the reason that seventh race of the season.
Belgium final weekend, by which he was knocked out within the first session in qualifying for each the dash and the grand prix after making errors, had been an exception to that run.
Though clearly pissed off by his personal efficiency, Hamilton congratulated Leclerc on his pole.
“It is superb for the group that the automotive is able to being on pole,” the seven-time champion stated, “so huge congrats to Charles.”
Leclerc got here into the weekend speaking about how he had by no means gelled with the Hungaroring throughout his profession, however he ends Saturday with arguably probably the most shocking and surprising pole place of the 12 months.
Leclerc had been third quickest behind the McLarens in all three apply classes, however the world champions appeared out of attain.
Nevertheless, a change in wind course between the second and remaining components of qualifying threw McLaren off their recreation and opened the door for Leclerc, who beat championship chief Oscar Piastri to pole with Lando Norris third.
Leclerc stated he “did not perceive” as a result of the automotive felt unhealthy all through qualifying. However he and the McLaren drivers put the shift in competitiveness right down to a change in climate situations, when not solely did the wind change course by 180 levels, however the energy of the wind, the temperature and humidity degree all modified.
“In Q3, the situations modified for everyone,” Leclerc stated. “I mainly simply did a clear lap, which was a very good lap as a result of these situations have been actually tough to get the whole lot proper, and I used to be actually pleased in regards to the lap.
“It’s most likely probably the most shocking pole place I’ve ever accomplished, so I am very pleased.”
Leclerc stated that revisions to the automotive on the final race in Belgium had helped his confidence when pushing to the restrict over one qualifying lap.
Ferrari launched a brand new rear suspension which, along with being aimed toward permitting them to run the automotive decrease with out risking damaging the ground to the extent the automotive failed its post-race legality exams, was additionally meant to enhance driveability when mixed with a brand new ground launched three races in the past in Austria.
Leclerc stated: “The improve in Spa positively helped me to extract a bit of bit extra.
“Earlier than Spa, I needed to arrange the automotive in a really, very excessive means early on within the season to try to extract one thing out of this automotive in qualifying.
“It was making the automotive very, very unpredictable and really tough everytime you go for the 0.1-0.15secs in Q3. It was extraordinarily tough to get it proper. And in case you simply overstepped a bit of bit the bounds of that earlier automotive, then you’ll pay the worth quite a bit.
“Whereas with this automotive, you possibly can play a bit of bit extra with the bounds, and in case you go over the bounds a bit of bit, you simply do not lose as a lot. So the automotive is extra predictable, which is an efficient factor.”
