Lewis Hamilton suggests Ferrari now needs to replace him

Lewis Hamilton reckons Ferrari needs to “change driver” after his early exit in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix while Formula 1 team-mate Charles Leclerc took pole.

The seven-time world champion will start 12th for Sunday’s contest at the Hungaroring, while Ferrari stablemate Leclerc stormed to pole with his final lap in Q3.

It continues a very disappointing 2025 campaign so far for Hamilton, who is sixth in the championship and has been regularly beaten by fifth-placed Leclerc.

Hamilton, who immediately reacted via team radio saying “every time, every time”, was visibly annoyed in his post-qualifying interview with Sky Sports F1 and offered very little words, which went as follows:

Q: “Hi Lewis, can I just ask you the radio message ‘every time, every time’, what that was about?”
LH: “Oh it’s me every time.”
Q: “Yeah, so your qualifying, I know you’ve been upset by it before, frustrated by it before, is that what it is? Is it your qualifying, your Saturdays or?”
LH: “Yeah, useless, absolutely useless.”
Q: “Anything, any answers anywhere? This car, they’re trying to get this car in a better position for you.”
LH: “The team has no problem, you’ve seen the car is on pole, so we probably need to change driver.”

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images

Hamilton then explained to print media that “not once this weekend” did he feel he was on for a better result, despite holding a record eight victories at the Hungaroring.

He still acknowledged that qualifying was “amazing for the team” as Leclerc’s pole came as a shock after championship leaders McLaren topped every session until Q3 – citing “big progress” for Ferrari.

Photos from Hungarian GP – Practice & Qualifying