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Laurence Edmondson
BUDAPEST, Hungary — A despondent Lewis Hamilton labeled himself “completely ineffective” after qualifying twelfth for the Hungarian Grand Prix and mentioned Ferrari “in all probability want to vary driver.”
The seven-time world champion didn’t make the reduce for the ultimate a part of qualifying on the Hungaroring by 0.015 seconds earlier than watching from the sideline as his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc took a shock pole position forward of the dominant McLaren automobiles.
As he returned to the pits after the session, Hamilton radioed his staff to say, “each time, each time.”
Requested by Sky Sports after the session what he was referring to, he mentioned: “It is simply me each time.”
He added: “I’m ineffective. Completely ineffective.”
When it was put to him that Ferrari was working to adapt the automotive to go well with his driving fashion, Hamilton mentioned: “The staff has no downside. You possibly can see the automotive is on pole [with Leclerc].
“They in all probability want to vary driver.”
The consequence was Hamilton’s third disappointing qualifying session up to now two weeks after he was knocked out in dash qualifying 1 for the race in Belgium and the primary session for grand prix qualifying.
It follows a tricky half of a season for Hamilton, who joined Ferrari from Mercedes over the winter however has struggled to jell with the automotive on the first 13 races.
His greatest consequence stays a dash race victory on the Chinese language Grand Prix, though he has but to complete on the rostrum in a grand prix.
On the Belgian Grand Prix, he made probably the most of a moist race to get well to seventh place from a pit lane begin, however he doubted rain forecast for Sunday would supply an analogous alternative in Hungary.
“I do not assume something will help me proper now,” he added.