Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are once again despairing of their Ferrari team in Hungary. Explosive sentences linger on during the Formula 1 summer break.
05.08.2025, 13:00
05.08.2025, 15:24
dpa
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton took a really bad mood with them on their summer vacation from Formula 1. The late implosion of Leclerc's chance of victory in Hungary and Hamilton's next total failure spoiled the Scuderia's start to the vacation. "We have the chance to win a race once a year and we completely missed this opportunity," Leclerc lamented.
This season has brought him nothing, said the Monegasque. Leclerc had been on course for victory for more than half of the race before an inexplicable collapse cost him a podium finish. "I'm extremely frustrated," said the 27-year-old. In the 16 Grand Prix that he started from pole position recently, he only managed to win once.
Explosive sentences from Hamilton
Superstar Hamilton, who is increasingly despairing of his new employer, failed to score any points. "I had no expectations, but it's going worse than any season before," said the 40-year-old. In twelfth place, he scored no points for the first time at a finish in Hungary - on a track that he has won eight times in his career.
Hamilton had already revealed his growing self-doubt after the early qualifying exit. "It's down to me every time. I'm absolutely useless," said the record world champion, adding: "They'll probably have to change the driver."
His strange sentences after the race were hardly less explosive. "It's just a feeling. There's a lot going on in the background that's not great," said Hamilton. Team boss Frédéric Vasseur promptly had to ask himself whether his new signing could soon take the exit and whether the Briton was even worth his lavish salary.
Team boss called upon to comfort the soul
"I understand Lewis' reaction. He is very demanding with the team, with himself, with everyone. He will come back and he will fight again," replied Vasseur. The Frenchman is likely to be in demand as a comforter for both drivers until the next race in Zandvoort at the end of August.
The 57-year-old had come to Hungary in high spirits after his contract had been extended by several years. However, the huge gap to McLaren in the constructors' championship and the rollercoaster form of the red Formula 1 giant regularly leave the team boss in need of an explanation.
The next step for Vasseur is to explain to Leclerc and the company bosses what actually went wrong at the Hungaroring. "I was nowhere from lap 40 onwards," said Leclerc, explaining his crash to fourth place. The fifth-placed driver in the world championship shared his despair with TV viewers in angry radio messages, declaring his car "undriveable" and ranting that his team should listen to him.
"The last section was a disaster. We have to investigate it now and understand the problem before Zandvoort so that we can fix it," said Team Principal Vasseur. But the team should also take the positives from the last two races in Belgium and Hungary, when at least Leclerc provided some rays of hope. So will the first win of the season still happen? "I don't have a crystal ball," said Vasseur.
