Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton reached a new low at the Hungarian Grand Prix, getting lapped during a grand prix for the first time since 2022.
The last time Hamilton was lapped during a race was in Imola. New regulations took over in 2022, and Mercedes was caught off guard in terms of development.
The car went from the fastest to the midfield as the team couldn’t adjust to the ground effect regulations.
The 2022 season was painful for Mercedes, and one of the lowest points was the Imola race, when Max Verstappen lapped Hamilton.
At the race in Hungary this season, Hamilton was lapped for the first time since Imola, this time at the hands of McLaren driver Lando Norris, who ended up winning the race.
This is shocking considering how dominant Hamilton has been for years – he was typically the one lapping other cars, but the tables have turned on the champion.
The frustration over his struggles is beginning to boil over. During the race weekend, Hamilton was downbeat and lacked optimism regarding his issues.
He even suggested that Ferrari should replace him and alluded to issues in the background hindering his performance.
Team principal Fred Vasseur, however, still believes Hamilton is motivated and focused.
“I don’t need to motivate him, honestly,” Vasseur said after the race.
“He’s frustrated but not demotivated; it’s a completely different story.
“Again, I can perfectly understand the situation, and you can, sometimes you are making comments on what the driver is saying to the car, but if you put the microphone on some other sportsman in football and so on, I’m not sure that it would be much better.
“Sometimes they are making [rash] comments, even when they jump out of the car.
“I can understand the frustration, but we are all frustrated, and sometimes, if you ask me, I can’t say this, I will go to the stewards.
“But sometimes just after the race, or just after the Quali, you are very disappointed and the reaction, the first reaction is harsh, but we all know that we are pushing in the same direction.”
Hamilton and Ferrari have the opportunity to reset during the summer break and get their bearings as the final run of the season will come quickly and fast.
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