Hamilton feeling 'useless' after Hungarian GP qualifying flop
Seven-time world champion Hamilton exited the session in Q2 with his head down and his helmet on as the 40-year-old retreated to the team's motor home.
"I'm useless," said the British driver.
"Absolutely useless. The team has no problem. You've seen the car on pole so they probably need to change driver."
But he was backed to bounce back by four-time champion Max Verstappen who himself ranted about his Red Bull car and team after struggling to line up eighth on the grid.
"Looking at the whole weekend, I think we're happy to be in Q3 because I've been more outside the top 10 than in it –- so, yeah, it's been difficult this whole weekend," said the Dutch driver.
"No grip, front and rear, and it was the same in qualifying so, for me, it was not really a shock. I just drove to what I already feel the whole weekend."
The 27-year-old Dutchman added that Red Bull –- who had left a towel in his cockpit during a pitstop on Friday which led him to throw it out of the car, 24 hours after he had declared he was staying for 2026 -– did not yet understand the problems with the car.
"No, clearly not," he said. "I mean, otherwise, of course, we would have changed it already, but somehow, this weekend, nothing seems to work."
- 'Nothing works' -
Last year, Verstappen said he had been quick enough to challenge for pole, but this season, "from lap one, it just felt off -- and we threw the car around a lot and nothing really gave a direction.
"Now, it's just nothing works. You know, it's like just going around in circles and nothing gives you any kind of idea of what to do."
Looking ahead to Sunday's race, he said: "There may be a few cars in front of me that I can maybe battle with a little bit and, of course, Lewis is still a bit further down the road which, I think, he shouldn't be there right? So, he will come through a bit."
The two multiple champions, who battled so intensely in 2021 when Verstappen claimed his first title after a controversial victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, appear to have found a rapprochement and mutual respect.
But Hamilton's heart-on-sleeve vulnerability as he seeks his first Ferrari podium after 13 races this year may soon become a sad ending story if he cannot sort out his qualifying woes.
As the record-holder of nine poles and a record eight wins at the Hungaroring, he has to produce a rousing reminder of his best racing days on Sunday, as Verstappen expects.
str/ea/jc
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bradley Barcola transfer would throw up crucial Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi question for Liverpool
Liverpool's 2025 summer transfers will be remembered for many years to come as a whirlwind window, one that FSG seemingly unshackled itself of the usual constraints, flexed its muscles and showed that the Reds are among the biggest on the planet. Few could have seriously predicted a summer spend of just under $400 million, or around £300M. The arrivals of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike are statement signings on the back of such a convincing title win - and they could still be eclipsed by Alexander Isak's potential deal. Should Newcastle United's stance soften, then Liverpool is likely to make its move despite already landing a new No. 9. But for all the hype, the squad remains light in two key departments. Center-back is the most obvious given Trey Nyoni, Andy Robertson and Wataru Endo all started at the heart of defense during Monday's double header against Athletic Bilbao. READ MORE: Liverpool 'admires' Marc Guehi transfer alternative as Reds face Tottenham competition READ MORE: Everything Eddie Howe has said on Alexander Isak as striker banished amid Liverpool transfer saga Arne Slot's resources in the wide areas should also raise a few eyebrows. Luis Diaz's departure and the expected exit of Federico Chiesa leaves the Reds with just two recognized senior wingers in Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo. Rio Ngumoha is expected to play a bigger part at first-team level this term, although Slot will be wary of placing too much onus on a 16-year-old's shoulders. Ben Doak could also be an option, but is open to leaving this summer, while Frimpong, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ekitike can all be utilized out wide. But it's still an area of concern for the Reds. Rodrygo has been mentioned as a possible solution, Anthony Gordon's name has again cropped up in media whispers, and Malick Fofana was briefly flavor of the month. On Wednesday, with less than four weeks of the window left, another name emerged. Bradley Barcola will need no introduction to Liverpool supporters. The 22-year-old played in every single Paris Saint-Germain Champions League game en route to winning the competition last season, including the last-16 matches against Liverpool, and provided 21 goals and 21 assists in all competitions. They're staggering numbers, so reports in L'Equipe that the Reds are considering a move for PSG star, while not ruling out a move for Isak too, will have been well received on Merseyside. Transfer reporter Sacha Tavoleieri has since claimed Liverpool is planning a 'concrete offer' and wrote on X that any transfer would be north of €100M ($117M/£87M). Should it happen, it's a deal that would make sense for Liverpool given its lack of options in the wide areas, while Barcola would fit into the age range and talent required to pique FSG's interest. That he has fallen out of Luis Enrique's first-choice XI is another factor worth considering. On the surface, it seems more practical to add a winger above a striker - although that stance could shift if Darwin Nunez leaves in the next few days. A common question over recent weeks has been how Liverpool can afford such a lavish outlay this window. Those in the know on the complex topics of PSR, SCR, and FFP have repeatedly insisted Liverpool's finances are so healthy that concluding a deal for Isak remains possible. The bigger question, perhaps, is whether Isak, Barcola, and a center-back—let's say Marc Guehi—could be acquired in the coming weeks while Liverpool remains within the financial regulations. If so, that really would be a summer for the ages! For now, it seems a bizarre verdict on a title-winning squad that has strengthened to such an extent in the market, but Slot's group does still feel a little light in certain areas. Barcola would undeniably help and provide FSG with another statement signing.
New York Times
24 minutes ago
- New York Times
Mikel Arteta hopeful Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard will be available for Athletic Club game
Mikel Arteta is hopeful that Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard will be fit when Arsenal host Athletic Club on Saturday, August 9 'if everything goes to plan'. Havertz missed their 3-2 home defeat to Villarreal with a muscle issue. Calafiori felt a tweak in their 3-2 win over Newcastle United in Singapore, while Trossard picked up a groin issue in a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong, with both players missing the Villarreal game. Advertisement On the trio, Arteta said: 'Yesterday in training he [Havertz] felt something and this morning he wasn't quite right, so we decided to rest him. I think it will be a matter of a couple of days. Hopefully by the weekend, if everything goes to plan, he will be fit. 'The three that we lost during the tour were Big Gabi (Magalhaes), Leo and Ricky. For Saturday I think they both [Trossard and Calafiori] have a chance if everything in the next few days evolves in the way they have already been.' In the Villarreal loss, Gabriel played his first minutes for Arsenal since April 1, when he suffered a hamstring injury that required surgery at the end of last season. He was joined by Jurrien Timber, who also got his first minutes of pre-season after suffering an ankle injury in May. New signing Viktor Gyokeres made his first start for the club, playing 63 minutes before Arteta made wholesale changes to his side. With Havertz absent, Mikel Merino finished the game up front. On Gyokeres, the Arsenal manager said: 'It was very important for him to start a match and start to have the feeling and the connection with the team. 'He's been with us only a week or so, but I already saw a lot of things and a lot of purpose, especially the way he was attacking in certain spaces. 'I think mentally, and understanding what he needs to do, it will be 100 per cent or more because he's so willing and so confident that he can deliver straight away. I have no doubt that he will be in a really good place.' Arteta's only other chance to give Gyokeres a start before the Premier League season begins will be against Athletic Club on Saturday, August 9. Then, Arsenal will be just over a week away from kicking off their campaign away to Manchester United on Sunday, August 17. () Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Fox News
27 minutes ago
- Fox News
INDYCAR Championship Format Works Just Fine, Despite Alex Palou's Dominance
The INDYCAR championship will quite possibly be decided this weekend at Portland International Raceway, even though there are still two races remaining on the schedule. Alex Palou enters with a 121-point lead on Pato O'Ward. He just needs to leave 108 points ahead and he can celebrate the title. If he's 103 points ahead, all he'll have to do is start Milwaukee. If he's 98 points ahead, he'd most likely clinch at Milwaukee. But no matter what, he'd clinch in the finale at Nashville. As NASCAR fans debate their playoff system, there has been little debate on the INDYCAR side. When the mention of playoffs comes up, drivers quickly shake their heads when it comes to this idea. There's a good reason for NASCAR's playoffs. And there's good reason for a full-season championship in INDYCAR. The first is the length of the season. At 36 points races, the NASCAR calendar currently has more than twice the events of the 17-race INDYCAR schedule. With a 17-race schedule, it would seem that the championship has a better chance of coming down to the last race. It did for 17 consecutive seasons, until Palou clinched in 2023 with one race remaining. Last year, Palou didn't clinch until the finale. So that's 18 of the last 19 years (and likely to be 18 of the last 20 years) that the INDYCAR title came down to the finale. Not every season has been a 17-race schedule. But there's been enough consistency so that people shouldn't have the expectation that the championship will wrap up early. Palou is having one of those magical seasons of rare domination. After 14 races last year, Palou earned 484 points. This year he has 590. That would put him just 15 points better than the current 469 of O'Ward. Plus, open-wheel racing fans are used to seeing drivers wrap up the championship early. It has happened in various series, such as Formula 1. That isn't to say playoffs are bad. The National Hot Road Association has started a playoff format in recent years, much like NASCAR's original Chase format, where the "postseason" doesn't eliminate anyone but is just a mini-season where points are reset prior to the beginning of the final series of events. The most important thing is for a racing series to find what resonates with its fan base and works within its system. INDYCAR could use a couple of more ovals but with a series that includes seven permanent road courses, six ovals (three more than one mile in length; three of one mile or shorter) and four street courses, that seems like a decent variety to determine the champion. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
