Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time Formula 1 world champion, expressed profound dismay following a crucial qualifying session where he narrowly missed advancing to Q3, a significant setback that casts a shadow over his current form and future trajectory within the sport.

The British driver’s self-assessment was stark, admitting he “drove terribly” and felt “useless” after falling short of the Q3 cut by a mere 0.015 seconds, a stark contrast to his teammate Charles Leclerc who secured pole position. This recent qualifying disappointment fuels a growing narrative about the challenges facing the seasoned driver.

Hamilton’s struggle was evident in Q2, despite making it through the first round. His race engineer noted a three-tenth loss in turn 11 during his initial run. Although he improved on his final attempt, gaining over a quarter of a second in the final sector, it wasn’t enough to overcome the incredibly tight field in Grand Prix qualifying.

This latest incident adds to a troubling pattern for Hamilton; he now trails Charles Leclerc 10-4 in qualifying duels this season and has missed Q3 on four occasions since joining the Ferrari F1 team. This includes consecutive early eliminations, echoing his struggles at Spa just last weekend.

The context of this setback is particularly poignant given Hamilton’s illustrious history at the circuit. He has remarkably won the Hungarian Grand Prix eight times, rarely starting outside the top ten, making his current struggles even more striking against the backdrop of past triumphs.

The debate surrounding Hamilton’s recent performances often centers on age versus car adaptation. While some argue that “Father Time” is catching up, others contend that the current F1 cars’ characteristics, particularly their impact on braking, diminish his traditional strengths, differentiating his situation from older drivers like Fernando Alonso.

Speculation also points to the high-pressure environment at Ferrari and the presence of a strong, established teammate in Charles Leclerc as contributing factors. Adapting to a new team culture, especially one as intense as Ferrari, alongside a fast driver who is deeply entrenched, presents a formidable challenge for any F1 driver.

As the F1 season progresses, the focus remains on whether Lewis Hamilton can rediscover the form that defined his championship-winning career, adapt to the demands of the current machinery, or if these persistent qualifying issues signal a fundamental shift in his competitive standing.