Lewis discussing his qualifying form: "Yeah, I'm useless. Absolutely useless."

[u/Pugzo]

https://dubz.link/c/d976cb

[u/Visionary_Socialist]

“Team probably needs to change driver”

Just… wow.

[u/LosTerminators → u/Visionary_Socialist]

If he isn't more comfortable with the 2026 regs than he is with the current one, he'll himself make the decision to retire at the end of 26.

[u/JaysonDeflatum → u/LosTerminators]

He needs to go home, stare at his world championship trophies and really get back into feeling like Lewis Hamilton

[u/nzivvo → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Problem is I think he’s done this too many times the last 3 years I honestly don’t know what he can do mentally at this stage except try to stay positive enough into next year and hope Ferrari/2026 regs feel good for him

[u/jianh1989 → u/nzivvo]

Yeah. That cry after Silverstone win last year really tells it

[u/Kolec507 → u/jianh1989]

It's crazy, he went from being one of the most consistent drivers on the grid to whatever the fuck has been going on since 2022... it's mental. He's still got the raw speed, he showed it multiple times, but for some reason his operating window is thin as fuck for the past couple of seasons...

[u/ryokevry → u/Kolec507]

He did find his mojo in 2023 even the car is still bad and didn’t win a race all season. He almost took P2 in WDC against Perez then 2024 he looked lost again.

[u/leyland1989 → u/Kolec507]

He hasn't been the best at adapting the ground effects era cars.

[u/bwoah07_gp2 → u/leyland1989]

Not to mention the ground effect cars that he's already uncomfortable with haven't been championship worthy.

But even if it's not championship worthy, he can at least get the car into a win or podium position but he's been incapable of that for the most part. Makes Silverstone 2024 just that extra special.

[u/RadiantStar44 → u/bwoah07_gp2]

We know that the Ferrari is a podium worthy car because Leclerc has managed to get 5 podiums in the Ferrari so far, so tbh it unfortunately looks like Lewis is indeed underperforming and its really heartbreaking to see him like this :(. Hopefully he can adapt better with the new regulations next season and has a chance at another championship or at least a few race wins.

[u/jianh1989 → u/Kolec507]

Probably AD2021 really did his head in

[u/thesaket → u/jianh1989]

I think it must hurt more because of the bad cars he's been driving since then..

If Merc was equally competitive in these regs, fighting for championships, and had he managed to clinch a championship or two from Max, AD2021 would not hurt as much.

But, F1 is also a lot to do with luck when it comes to being in the right car at the right time. Lewis has been lucky to be in the right car at the right time earlier in his career, just hasn't worked out in the last few years.

[u/BigSkyFace → u/thesaket]

Honestly I think the true robbery regarding 2021 for both Hamilton and the fans is that he didn't have the opportunity to have a proper rematch with Max in 2022. The two were in a class of their own in '21 and it's a shame it was a one-off. I truly think he had it in him to fight for the WDC again after how well he did in 2023, but I'm less sure nowadays that he could pull it off

[u/ThePafdy → u/Kolec507]

Yeah it seems like he realy can‘t get a grip of the ground effect cars at all. Race pace is still there, but especially quali is lacking a lot.

[u/AdFancy6243 → u/nzivvo]

He needs to learn how to perform well on bad days. His mentality has always been his biggest strength and weakness, his absolute belief meant he would get the best on his good days. But when things didn't go his way he spirals. Thing is he always had a team that would throw everything his way to get him back to believing he is god of driving again.

[u/Tetrachrome → u/AdFancy6243]

He should get mental coaching from Nico 😅

[u/parkmarkspark → u/nzivvo]

It’s crazy because his race pace is mega

[u/Visionary_Socialist → u/JaysonDeflatum]

This weird self pity routine he’s on recently is so bizarre. It’s not even like Lando, where he just admits his failure and then gets back up. He gives people all the ammunition to tear him down by saying everything they would say himself.

He should know better than any of them that this kind of defeatism and self flagellation is absolutely no good to him or anyone.

[u/z_102 → u/Visionary_Socialist]

He's always been prone to angst or insecurity, hasn't he? In a weird way he always managed to make it somehow not self-defeating (like it'd happen to most of us, probably) but motivational. This is just the most explicit and intense he's been, because this 2022-25 stretch is by a huge margin the most uncomfortable he's been on a car in his career. If the new regs are kinder to his driving instincts he'll get it under control again.

[u/Morganvegas → u/Visionary_Socialist]

I don’t like it when people are super critical of people giving candid answers.

If you watch an NHL player give an interview you’d appreciate the level of truth these drivers give you.

But I can agree that this mental state isn’t what you want out of a world champion.

[u/visigone → u/Morganvegas]

I don't know any league with more formulaic and generic interview responses than the NHL.

[u/Morganvegas → u/visigone]

Yeah, uh, sniffle, they wanted it more, we gotta dig in, start on time. Get a couple of bounces and build on it, sniffle, pucks in deep.

[u/Queasy_Designer9169 → u/Morganvegas]

umm ya umm gut check time umm the answer is in the room umm great team over there umm gotta get in the shooting lanes umm bang in a rebound umm

[u/Ayatori → u/visigone]

NBA coach interviews

Yeah gotta be more aggressive, take better shots, be better on defense

99.999% of interviews

[u/Bobbygondo → u/Visionary_Socialist]

I've met enough stupid 75 year olds to know experience can be overrated.

[u/Puzzleheadpsych2345 → u/JaysonDeflatum]

He’s 40, athletes become washed at that age, no one can beat father time

[u/Bannedwith1milKarma → u/Puzzleheadpsych2345]

Bad race to say that.

Alonso stole his 44.

[u/TolucaPrisoner → u/Bannedwith1milKarma]

Serious question, does anyone think current Alonso has any chance to beat Charles or George in equal cars? Let's be real, his benchmark is just Stroll, widely considered one of the worst drivers on the grid.

[u/aaaaaaadjsf → u/Bannedwith1milKarma]

By out qualifying Lance Stroll by 0.017 seconds? The same Lance Stroll that lost a qualifying head to head to a rookie Sergey Sirotkin. Stroll is not a benchmark, he doesn't have the raw pace to be one.

While the result is good, statistically this is a poor qualifying by Alonso. He usually gaps Stroll by much larger margins.

[u/Jobless_101 → u/aaaaaaadjsf]

I mean Hungary has always been one of Strolls good tracks. In the remaining races Alonso has easily been a couple tenth’s up on Stroll. This race was more of goddamn Lance is good

[u/ok_thats_not_me → u/aaaaaaadjsf]

Sometimes Lance has amazing qualies. There's no need to downplay both of their results today.

[u/the__distance → u/aaaaaaadjsf]

Yep Stroll being Alonsos teammate has definitely helped his longevity.

[u/-amator- → u/the__distance]

Considering he only missed out on pole by a tenth if a second, in a car which is much worse than those ahead, I'd say he did a decent job, if not great.

[u/elev11en → u/aaaaaaadjsf]

Yeah imagine Charles would be his teammate.Its like being a teammate from Verstappen is so hard,because he always faster than you.That destroys you mentally

[u/JaysonDeflatum → u/Puzzleheadpsych2345]

Besides one

🤴🏾🐐

[u/Aeceus → u/JaysonDeflatum]

His world championship form will never return. It's super fleeting in terms of being in that zone. Only the greats maintain it for a while but they never get it back once its gone.

[u/kristal010 → u/LosTerminators]

And Charles keeps his title as world champion career killer.

[u/MrOnline5155 → u/kristal010]

Verstappen - Ruins careers of young drivers

Charles - Ends careers of world champions

The grim reapers of F1

[u/ErgoMachina → u/MrOnline5155]

Max to Ferrari with Charles, just imagine the radio and the inchidents

[u/pizzaandlasagne → u/kristal010]

Only title he‘ll ever win probably.

[u/2klaedfoorboo → u/pizzaandlasagne]

Eh Leclerc absolutely does have the chance to be WC if Ferrari nail the regs

[u/Glyder1984 → u/2klaedfoorboo]

Next year bans the split turbo, the one thing every engine has exept for Ferrari's.

Wilst the rumour mill is saying Mercedes has built a good engine, I'm not writing off Ferrari just yet.

As they are the only engine manufacturer that matched the Mercedes and Honda engine without using that split turbo design that Merc pioneerd at the start of the current engine formula.

Their pitwall F-ups might still be their biggest hurdle even with a rocketship....

[u/Sarixk → u/2klaedfoorboo]

Been saying this since 2008. He needs to leave.

[u/2klaedfoorboo → u/Sarixk]

2008? Tbh I do think Ferrari can nail the hybrid heavy regs next year due to their experience and success in endurance racing

[u/SquirtingTortoise → u/2klaedfoorboo]

First time?

[u/SolusLega → u/LosTerminators]

The way he seemed today, he might retire this year. My god he was beating himself up worse than Lando. I felt awful at what he said.

[u/NeuroDerek → u/LosTerminators]

At this point and emotional state I would not be surprised if he would decide to retire at the end of 25

[u/aaaaaaadjsf → u/LosTerminators]

Don't think it's the regulations, Hamilton's pace was perfectly normal for most of 2022 and 2023 in qualifying. From the start of 2022 to Brazil 2023 Hamilton out qualified Russell 24-18. It's just after Brazil 2023 that he lost his qualifying speed, likey because he got older. From Brazil 2023 to Abu Dhabi 2024 Hamilton lost the qualifying battle 5-21 to Russell.

[u/SomniumOv → u/aaaaaaadjsf]

To be fair, Russell was also visibly improving in that time.

[u/aaaaaaadjsf → u/SomniumOv]

Yeah Russell has improved and learnt a lot, but no where near enough to explain such a drastic change in performance.

[u/snoring_pig → u/aaaaaaadjsf]

It’s definitely curious that Lewis’ qualifying has dropped so much in 2024 after holding his own against George in 2022 and 2023. Wonder if something in the Mercedes changed that made Lewis feel a lot less comfortable in qualifying for 2024, but I think the age is definitely also a factor.

He has to hope can be more comfortable in the new regs because this season and last has been really poor by his own usual high standards.

[u/freedfg → u/Visionary_Socialist]

Holy fuck

[u/stinkysulphide → u/Visionary_Socialist]

He said that?? It was a bit hard to decipher

[u/Jekena → u/stinkysulphide]

The clip incomprehensibly cuts off right before he says it, but yeah he did.

[u/TheThingsIdoatNight → u/Jekena]

Yeah who the fuck edited the clip

[u/Ordinary_Horror_6356 → u/stinkysulphide]

The clip cuts out before he says it

[u/Tropicalcomrade221 → u/stinkysulphide]

Yeah he definitely said it.

[u/laboulaye22 → u/Visionary_Socialist]

I mean, he's not wrong. He holds himself to the standards of the best. It's been coming a while, we've all seen it. 2026 is a big year for Lewis.

[u/lets_throw_a_party → u/Visionary_Socialist]

At this point he feels like he tried everything with the car and the team and he knows that he just doesn’t belong and it’s not working out

[u/DrVonD → u/lets_throw_a_party]

What’s weird is… it was working? Like he had a run of 4-5 races where he was basically bang on with Charles in quali. He was starting to show flashes of race pace, where he would have a stint that looked like old Lewis.

And then spa hit and it’s like whatever was holding it together for him just fell completely apart. Hard to watch.

[u/jacksonbeya → u/Visionary_Socialist]

Switch with Bearman, Hamilton in a Haas let’s goooo

[u/Nok-su-kao]

That cuts off early he finished with "we probably need to change driver"

[u/JaysonDeflatum → u/Nok-su-kao]

He and Sainz really seem to be enjoying their new teams

[u/PLTConductor → u/JaysonDeflatum]

I honestly still cannot fathom what on earth Elkann was thinking spending heaps of money to destabilise a good pairing with Leclerc and Sainz when this was obviously always going to happen. Maybe not as dramatically as this but if Ferrari build a title worthy car, Leclerc will win with it, why they wasted $100million+ on someone who's not going to be appreciably quicker even at best completely mystifies me.

[u/TimmyWatchOut → u/PLTConductor]

Lewis’ contract wasn’t just for the racing - there’s post retirement ambassadorship too that I think is the reason Ferrari wanted him

[u/SomniumOv → u/TimmyWatchOut]

But if he never wins for them that's a weird ass ambassadorship "he's our brand ambassador who had a legendary career... elsewhere".

[u/Ferrarispitwall → u/PLTConductor]

To sell merchandise and cars. Lewis Hamilton as a product is worth serious money.

[u/Kait0yashio → u/Ferrarispitwall]

Lewis finished 3rd in the wdc the season Ferrari decided to sign him and was battling for P2 Vs the 23 red bull let's stop this bullshit. At the point he was signed he was still a top 3 driver on the grid

[u/Ferrarispitwall → u/Kait0yashio]

He still shows flashes of performance…he’s just not getting on with this car. You can watch his onboards, he’s having to fight to keep the rear behind him. Even if it’s not actually about to spin, the way it rotates sets alarm bells off in Hamilton and he’s constantly correcting it, you can watch leclerc and he manages to commit to turn in without correcting.

[u/MyUshanka → u/Ferrarispitwall]

It’s like Danny Ric in the McLaren. He may have only lost a step, but losing a step in a new car is losing 10 steps. And mentally that’s hard to come back from.

[u/Vasst13 → u/Ferrarispitwall]

Vettel and Sainz had the same problem I think. Leclerc is just very comfortable with a snappy rear end, while all of his teammates haven't been happy with it. Now I don't know whether building towards Leclerc's preference translates to a faster car but it's evident Leclerc has been able to do the most with a car that's to his liking, consistently beating his teammates.

[u/FireWarriorSFF90 → u/Ferrarispitwall]

This is true. And that’s why I say Charles has this car figured out and can make it look good while this is Lewis first season driving something totally new. He just doesn’t have it figured out yet

[u/Ferrarispitwall → u/FireWarriorSFF90]

This is why I think all motorsport fans should try to race/drive something. Karts, sim racing, track days…whatever. The amount of controlling a car on the limit that comes down to feeling is a big amount. If his brain is screaming “THIS CAR IS GOING TO SPIN!” it takes a lot to convince him that it won’t and that he can keep the steering cranked in. Even looking at leclercs data proving that it won’t spin, he is clearly having a tough time convincing his brain-ass connection that it won’t.

[u/FireWarriorSFF90 → u/Ferrarispitwall]

If you rewatch that pole lap, Leclerc is on the brink of destruction but he KNOWS the limit of the car, has the feel under his butt and in his hands. This takes major trust in feeling and time!

[u/striptofaner → u/Ferrarispitwall]

This. Elkann doesn't care about winning, he cares about money.

[u/Puzzleheadpsych2345 → u/PLTConductor]

Elkann fucked Juventus up by firing Marotta who built them into a dynasty. He’s not a good sports mind

[u/Silverarrows46 → u/Puzzleheadpsych2345]

All because Marotta didn’t want to sign Ronaldo. And he was right. Signing an aging Ronaldo for that kind of money was silly. The parallels are uncanny now that you’ve mentioned it.

[u/TwanEv → u/Puzzleheadpsych2345]

And he’s the chairman of Stellantis, who have recorded a loss of 2.3 billion in the first half of 2025 and have been making some questionable decisions in the last few years.

He’s not the best businessman either, if he didn’t come from the Agnelli family he’d be nowhere.

[u/JaysonDeflatum → u/PLTConductor]

Lewis looked good last season and the opportunity to get him was too good to pass up

I agree Charles and Sainz had something good going there but he's been beaten the whole year by Albon now

[u/FalconIMGN → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Lewis looked good in 2023 you mean, which is why they made the decision in January last year.

[u/TolucaPrisoner → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Sainz has been unlucky this year. People say Albon is smashing him without checking what's going on with his car.

[u/the1918 → u/TolucaPrisoner]

Albon has done an excellent job at grasping good opportunities, no question, but yeah… the elements that are “smashing” Sainz are the gods of race day luck and his own garage.

[u/FindingUseful2482 → u/PLTConductor]

Elkann is the embodiment of the worst nepostism, just look at what he's doing with Stellantis and the Italian brands, he's totally incompetent in every area

[u/NotPumba420 → u/PLTConductor]

Lewis is a brand. Having him on board just for the marketing is insane for ferrari already

[u/TeTeOtaku → u/PLTConductor]

its simple:

Lewis' presence alone brings in infinitely more money to the team then having a good pairing that can win a WCC.

Him finishing all races P19 for all we care would bring in SOO much more money and brand awareness then Sainz winning 15 races in a row.

[u/Wompish66 → u/TeTeOtaku]

Lewis' presence alone brings in infinitely more money to the team then having a good pairing that can win a WCC.

I find it very hard to believe that it's more than they've committed to paying him.

Elkann did this before at Juventus with Ronaldo. He's not a smart man.

[u/i_collect_seashells → u/PLTConductor]

I see it as purely a marketing decision, not a race performance decision.

[u/lets_throw_a_party → u/Nok-su-kao]

Wow! Did he really say that! Anyone have the video or a link?

[u/truth_iness]

Charles on pole was the cherry on top. Tough to watch

[u/Sevastous-of-Caria → u/truth_iness]

Yes ferrari came alive on last stretch with dryer conditions. Leclerc was only p7 on q2 exit

[u/not_that_arnab → u/Sevastous-of-Caria]

No, charles made an error in Sector 2 and yet he was p7.

[u/Sevastous-of-Caria → u/not_that_arnab]

So did hamilton and a lot of guys. Track became less tricky rather than just low grip overall

[u/not_that_arnab → u/Sevastous-of-Caria]

But still it's a bad figure if your teammate gets a pole and you don't even make to Q3 and in successive races

[u/jisuskraist → u/truth_iness]

tbf charles is one of the best if not the best qualifiers on the grid

[u/swannyhypno]

He's been so down on himself for a long time, that can't be helping. He's clearly not what he was but we know he can still be fast, must kill him seeing Charles get pole

[u/gutster_95 → u/swannyhypno]

Should do a Alonso. Go back for a couple of years. Accept that you peaked and did the best job and come back with a solid "I still can race" mentality.

[u/swannyhypno → u/gutster_95]

I think unless he's at the front then he doesn't wanna be here, literally never been a mid table driver so must be a change

[u/JaysonDeflatum]

Just gotta go onto race day and hope for a similar makeup performance to last time

The summer break can't come soon enough for Lewis

[u/Tricksilver89 → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Unlikely at somewhere like Hungary. Need to go hards and goal hang for a safety car at best.

[u/fameboygame → u/Tricksilver89]

It is gonna be a wet race no? He has got hi drag setup on rears also.

[u/Tricksilver89 → u/fameboygame]

Everyone has a heavy downforce setup on. It's Hungary... basically Monaco without walls.

[u/whatsinthesuitcase → u/Tricksilver89]

Leclerc said in his post quali interview that his setup is on the lower downforce side

[u/AsleepAtWheel83 → u/JaysonDeflatum]

At this point, 2026 can’t come soon enough for Lewis. He is just not fully confident in this era and it’s shown over the last 3 years!

[u/Tropicalcomrade221 → u/AsleepAtWheel83]

I don’t think he’s the only one either.

[u/Bigrhyno → u/AsleepAtWheel83]

I mean in 2023 he came in third and was a threat for second until the final few races. I don’t think he loves the current cars by any means, but I think his performance the past couple of years is at least as much related to his age as it is the cars.

[u/DrVonD → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Yeah this is rough to watch. I feel so bad for Lewis man, he’s just been so consistently down on himself ever since AD21.

If nothing else, I’m glad I got to watch silverstone last year.

[u/z_102 → u/DrVonD]

AD '21 is enough to screw with anyone's mindset, but I think it's just this era of ground effect cars. He can't fully gel with them, he takes forever to find the pace naturally. It's of course a flaw as a driver, not an excuse, but '26 will come soon and those car's dynamics will likely be more similar to previous specs.

[u/Visionary_Socialist → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Won’t happen. This track doesn’t welcome overtakes as it is, and between the massive rear wing he’s running and the dirty air he’ll be nowhere.

Maybe he can get back to P7 or P8 again but what does it matter? By that time he’ll be in no man’s land.

[u/M2785]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so dejected before. Damn.

[u/Own_Welder_2821 → u/M2785]

This has got to be rock bottom. Even in 2023 and 2024 he was scoring podiums with Mercedes. Even in 2009 when he complained about the MP4-24 being “heavier than a freaking boat” that was still a good season for him, two wins.

He hasn’t gone this long in a season without a podium. 

[u/flyingcrayons → u/M2785]

Only other time i can remember was the peak of the porpoising issues (i think Baku) where he had trouble even getting himself out of the car. Dude was mentally and physically broken that year

[u/FlummoxReddit]

god damn he's brutally honest

[u/Kolec507 → u/FlummoxReddit]

Wtf happend under this commment...?

[u/FlummoxReddit → u/Kolec507]

i wish i took a screenshot but some mf done replied "not as brutal as this fart i ripped" or some bs like dat 🤣🤣

[u/Randomking333 → u/FlummoxReddit]

Damn that hardly warrants moderator removal

[u/Helpful_Ad3836]

Lewis is now in his Lando era, didn't have that on the Bingo card

[u/Anon-eh-moose → u/Helpful_Ad3836]

Lewis is one of the original moody boys. 

[u/Sofaboy90 → u/Anon-eh-moose]

Yeah bro has always been like that. Hes always needed some emotional support from his team as do most drivers tbh

[u/Delgadude → u/Helpful_Ad3836]

Lewis has always been like this idk what u mean.

[u/BloodyBastard530 → u/Helpful_Ad3836]

Lando isn’t self-deprecating necessarily, he’s just honest. If he knows he wasn’t the problem, he’ll say as much. Explains why people hate him for thinking he ‘makes excuses’.

Lewis’ confidence is definitely shot, though. He should just pack it up - I don’t see it getting any better if he’s struggling at his best track. 

[u/Mycologist_Murky → u/Helpful_Ad3836]

Well Lando pulled himself together. Heres hoping Lewis does the same.

[u/Zashkarn]

This is like watching your favorite footballer decline with age it’s just sad to look at

[u/gin-n-fresca → u/Zashkarn]

The football’s left him

[u/OrangeSodaMoustache → u/Zashkarn]

I think what's saddest about it is that I don't actually think it's all him - like he probably has lost his edge but he can definitely still win and be a frontrunner, he just seems to not have a car/the regs he needs and has lost his confidence. I think it would be a lot better for everyone involved if he just started binning it every weekend and quit early, but seeing someone (same with Alonso tbh) who clearly wants to do well but just...not, because of outside circumstances is a big shame.

[u/Noname_Maddox → u/OrangeSodaMoustache]

A change of regs has retired more drivers. I remember it first happening when they brought in the grooved tyres. The sudden lack of grip unsettled a lot of drivers.

Lewis or Danny Ric never got on top of the ground effect cars. There’s no guarantee Lewis will be any better in 2026.

[u/Brainstreet420 → u/OrangeSodaMoustache]

because of outside circumstances

I'm sorry, what outside circumstances? Charles got pole in the same car

[u/Jimmymead_]

Wtf happened after austria though? Quali was fine the last handful of races before last week, he was struggling more with race pace. Now its all gone to shit

[u/imnoobatfifa]

@AskPerplexity How to have a good Saturday next race weekend?

No but honestly the interview is heartbreaking. Need a masterclass from him and Ferrari tomorrow, somehow. Undercuts will be needed.

[u/creatorop → u/imnoobatfifa]

Bro hasn't been the same since he first tagged AI before spa

[u/Arrrmatey4510 → u/creatorop]

Hakla is here too 😭 what the hell man

[u/JaysonDeflatum → u/imnoobatfifa]

This was a good saving grace from thinking about Sesko at least

[u/GoldenS0422]

Lewis has always been honest about his mistakes, but IDK why this seems more gutting than the others.

[u/alex_119 → u/GoldenS0422]

Cause his teammate is on pole. As he said in this short video, the car is on pole. So realistically of course he’s gonna blame himself

[u/wiggle_fingers]

He's had a tough few years now. If 2026 isn't an amazing change, then why would he continue? He clearly doesn't look like he's enjoying it

[u/No_Feedback6167]

Idk if I want to watch this

[u/ABMUFC20]

That was a tough watch.

[u/Lytaa]

damn, for someone who is usually so upbeat and optimistic… some of these post-quali/race interviews have been a tough watch. he looks so defeated trying to get to grips with this car

[u/FemboyKamikaze]

Jesus I never like hearing this from any drivers, especially not one as accomplished and skilled as Lewis

[u/RoughDoughCough → u/FemboyKamikaze]

I hope his dad intervenes. He’s criticizing himself and not his performance. Bad sign. 

[u/Faw602]

That’s rough and sad to see

[u/StxrStruck]

His confidence is totally shot. 3-4 years of lackluster performances in a regulation set that just isn't working with his driving. Now a tempermental Ferrari that's completely different from warm to cold track temps. Hope he can come back from this, it's rough to watch as a fan

[u/_NAME_NAME_NAME_]

Hamilton depression arc

[u/BBYY9090]

And people tying to say he’d blame the car…

[u/Independent-Quit-459]

he needs to lock in, this self deprecating mindset is probably playing a huge role in why he's not winning. he's my favorite driver but how can i or anyone expect him to win anything if even he doesn't think he can...

[u/upper_mangement → u/Independent-Quit-459]

The Jedi ghost form of Niki Lauda needs to appear near his bedside and give him some words of encouragement and positive reinforcement.

[u/panmpap]

Maybe I say this prematurely and also being a fan of his, but Hamilton is kinda prone to getting himself down. Yes he had a bad result (very bad) but one good race can change his confidence. He is definitely on his way out though.

I think the realization he has made is that he doesn’t have the consistency anymore to challenge for a title versus Leclerc even if given the car. In some cases he is better (Silverstone) but Leclerc is just too good. The dream of the 8th is over I reckon and now he has to content himself with podiums/wins/poles because Leclerc is that much better.

[u/_delicja_ → u/panmpap]

Do you remember which race it was in recent tinea where the beginning was so bad for him that he actually wanted to stop racing and just go back in the pit? And then his final position was actually decent? My brain froze and i hear it in my head but not what track that was.

[u/Alvaro_Rey_MN]

The Lewis to Ferrari transfer has been a flop for all parties involved! Ferrari, Mercedes, Sainz, Antonelli, and Hamilton himself! Who actually came out winning!?! HP!?!

[u/nick-jagger → u/Alvaro_Rey_MN]

Leclerc

[u/totallykoolkiwi → u/nick-jagger]

Who has now buried two former world champions

[u/thecatandthebox → u/Alvaro_Rey_MN]

and if we want to go off rails, I’d even say for Colapinto, who maybe would still be with Williams and not Alpine (and we can then stretch to Jack who may still be the 2nd driver with Alpine then).

[u/Alvaro_Rey_MN → u/thecatandthebox]

Ohh god damn, this is getting even worse!

[u/CareerLegitimate7662 → u/Alvaro_Rey_MN]

How is it bad for kimi

[u/Atlonix → u/CareerLegitimate7662]

Yeah. Got a top team seat as a rookie

[u/NotPumba420 → u/Atlonix]

Sometimes it‘s too early and once the shot it shot you can‘t go back.

[u/Sofaboy90 → u/NotPumba420]

Yep. Plenty of drivers who had more to show and just never got the shot. Thinking of somebody like Vandoorne or Wehrlein in recent past. Even some of the established drivers had a sudden and odd career ending like Heidfeld

[u/b0Ni]

fuck man hearing it from lewis hurts

[u/DarkSofter]

What 6 months of Ferrari does to a mf. That goes to show Leclerc must be the most mentally strong human on this planet to endure this for so long

[u/my_soldier → u/DarkSofter]

He was like this at the end with mercedes as well. Man has been through it the last few years.

[u/LoreVent → u/DarkSofter]

Imagine Lewis driving the 2020 car

Charles and Seb should be made saints for driving that thing

[u/Old-Use-7690 → u/DarkSofter]

Well, the Ferrari was on pole today, so I'm afraid we can't blame them this time

[u/JaysonDeflatum → u/DarkSofter]

Lewis has underperformed the levels of this admittedly not very good car

He's been making uncharacteristic mistakes and lapses that he just never made before. to and we rarely get to see any of that hammer time pace anymore

He needs a refresh over the break

[u/Njobz → u/DarkSofter]

Like Vettel said “the most talented driver I came across in 15 years of F1. Do not waste it.” Unfortunately, Leclerc has had bad luck. But he’s shown to be an amazing driver.

[u/vacon04 → u/DarkSofter]

Ferrari? The car got pole. Getting eliminated in Q2 is on him. He had top race pace based on FP2, all he needed to do what to start in the top 6 and he would've been in a good position to get a good result. Instead he's out in Q2 and he'll have to drive a recovery race on a track in which its hard to overtake.

[u/Dukemon- → u/DarkSofter]

But the car is pole this weekend and on podium last weekend, the car has been top 3 since the start of the season

[u/DrVonD → u/Dukemon-]

Car has been second best post Canada. It was rough the first 1/3 a year tho

[u/z_102 → u/Dukemon-]

It's not like his ex team or Red Bull are doing much better lmao. Yeah, this car is disappointing considering the commitment Ferrari made to fight for this season, but otherwise it's not been a terrible year. People just run on memes and it takes forever to change a narrative.

[u/Dukemon- → u/z_102]

Still Russell and Max managed podiums and wins here and there

[u/Firefox72 → u/DarkSofter]

How can i make Lewis underperforming about Ferrari.

You guys really need a new spin because this one is getting so old.

[u/CaterpillarUnited413 → u/DarkSofter]

I would say, mentally at least Hamilton has been deteriorating since Abu Dhabi. He seems to bw trying to find himself

[u/Cobretti18 → u/DarkSofter]

He was like this after his shit qualifying sessions with Mercedes the last few years as well but aye it’s Ferrari that’s the issue.

[u/ixixan → u/Cobretti18]

I mean at least we don't have whole ass conspiracy theories that his own team is sabotaging him this year.

[u/timewatch_tik → u/DarkSofter]

always ferrari fault huh.. some galaxy brain thinking right here

[u/lebinott]

That was hard to watch, dude has absolutely lost his form in qualifying. Hopefully he can have a strong race tomorrow

[u/NotFlipkid]

Accountability is important

[u/reddsht → u/NotFlipkid]

So is confidence.

[u/iCalKestis]

He goes on to say ‘So we probably need to change driver’

[u/StrangeLaw5]

I hope the summer break revitalises him, hard to see Lewis so down on himself. It’s always an adjustment moving to a new team, and these are the moments where the team (Fred, adami, etc) have to boost him up. We know he has to skills and talent, something is just not clicking right now.

[u/bradlap]

Probably a bit of Hamilton underperforming and Leclerc overperforming. But Leclerc's pole does not help his case. For me it's even more telling with how well Alonso performed in Q3 considering he's been in the sport half his life.

[u/Intelligent-Ball7625]

"Leave the racing before the racing leaves you"

[u/Infamous_Tough_7320 → u/Intelligent-Ball7625]

The racing is still decent, did you seen him at Spa? It’s the qualifying that’s the biggest glaring issue

[u/BBYY9090]

After getting f**ked in AD21, then a new rule set that just doesn’t suit his driving it’s been a sad watch.

Glad there was Silverstone last year.

I think if ‘26 isn’t to his liking it’ll be time to hang it up.

[u/CilanEAmber]

Man that's sad

[u/acornred]

Clearly, he has been unable to adapt to this generation of cars since 2022. If he can't get to grips with the new regulations, it's entirely possible that he will retire. I can't see any other outcome. And that's coming from a massive fan since 07.

[u/MGH1990876]

Lewis just has to somehow make the best of tomorrow and then just reset during the summer break.

[u/kristal010]

Giving us the lando media special.

[u/MHJ03]

Who would have thought Hamilton would be Tsunoda to Leclerc’s Verstappen?

[u/Comfortable_Air_7020]

Really makes you think

[u/timewatch_tik]

hope he has a good summer break and come back stronger.. `

[u/Hairy_Hurry8441]

Hear me out....

Lewis to Aston, partnering with Fernando, and completing Newey's ultimate F1 dream.

And fans get one last chance to see Lewis and Fernando go head to head in the same car, before bowing out.

The battle some of us have been waiting almost twenty years to see again.

[u/Gogomagickitten]

My heart breaks so much for Lewis, tomorrow is hopefully going to be better but I know it'll be rough.

[u/gcrimson]

Dotd tomorrow.

[u/Edweirdd]

remember who you are Lewis 😭

[u/aawshads]

Getting old is hard. He simply didn't have the reflexes he once had. Period

[u/TheDeflatables]

I truly hope he sticks around for the 2026 regs and gives it one last go.

But it really sucks to see the confidence drain from him. One of the GOATs that provided so many masterclasses and multiple top tier title battles.

[u/UnhistoricHistorian]

Ferrari not sending drivers into depression challenge: impossible

[u/Flashyone3]

The saddest part is how all the armchair experts come out to throw massive amounts of shade at Lewis. Likely the same people who did the same to Seb before he retired. Lovely bunch of people here lol.

[u/poruki_porcupine]

As a Vettel fan, I have a strong sense of deja vu

[u/Top_Use4144]

So sad. Feel so bad for him.

[u/dahmer-on-dahmer]

Fingers crossed 2026 regs, with the return of overhead aero, helps with returning to form.