Ferarri boss breaks silence after frustrated Lewis Hamilton labelled himself 'useless'
The seven-time world champion said Ferrari should drop him from his £60million-a-year-contract after he qualified 12th while his team-mate Charles Leclerc claimed a surprise pole position.
It was the Brit's worst-ever qualifying result in Budapest, and moved his head-to-head record against Leclerc in qualifying to 10-4 this season.
A clearly dejected Hamilton said: 'It's me every time. I'm useless, absolutely useless.
'The team have no problem. You've seen the car's on pole. So we probably need to change driver.'
Fans were stunned to hear such words from an icon of the sport and team principal Vasseur has attempted to ease the pressure on him.
He explained that it is normal for a driver to struggle after joining a new team, having spent so long with Mercedes.
'He spent 20 years in the same environment,' said the Frenchman. It is a huge change.
'The car cannot cope with his driving style yet. But I want both cars fighting for podiums.'
Hamilton is unlikely to be going anywhere and much of the speculation in recent times has been over the future of his boss.
However, Ferrari brought those rumours to an end as they handed the Frenchman a new multi-year contract extension.
'Fred joined the Scuderia at the beginning of 2023, bringing with him extensive motorsport experience and a proven ability to develop talent and build competitive teams across all levels of racing,' a statement read.
'Since then, he has laid a solid foundation with the ambition of returning Ferrari to the top of Formula 1. Renewing Fred's contract reflects Ferrari's determination to build on the foundations laid so far. His ability to lead under pressure, embrace innovation, and pursue performance aligns fully with Ferrari's values and long-term ambitions.
'Under Fred's leadership, Scuderia Ferrari HP is united, focused, and committed to continuous improvement. The trust placed in him reflects the team's confidence in its strategic direction and reinforces a shared determination to deliver the results that Ferrari's fans, drivers, and team members expect and deserve.'
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