For the first time since 2022, Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton was lapped during a grand race, setting a new low at the Hungarian Grand race. The last race in which Hamilton was lapped was in Imola. In terms of development, Mercedes was taken by surprise when new rules took effect in 2022. Due to the team’s inability to adapt to the ground effect regulations, the car went from being the fastest to the midfield. The Imola race, in which Max Verstappen passed Hamilton, was the low point of Mercedes’ miserable 2022 campaign.
This season’s race in Hungary saw McLaren driver Lando Norris lap Hamilton for the first time since Imola. Norris went on to win the race.
Given how dominant Hamilton has been for years—usually the one crashing into other cars—this is startling, but the champion has already been overtaken. He’s starting to lose his temper over his difficulties. Hamilton was depressed and unimpressed by his problems over the race weekend. He even implied that Ferrari need to replace him and made references to background problems that were impeding his performance. However, team manager Fred Vasseur continues to think Hamilton is driven and committed. Vasseur remarked, “I don’t need to motivate him, honestly,” following the race. “It’s a whole other story; he’s frustrated but not demotivated.
“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.” Even when they leap out of the car, they occasionally make [rash] remarks. But sometimes, right after the race, right after the Quali, you are really disappointed and the reaction, the first reaction is harsh, but we all know that we are pushing in the same direction. “I understand the frustration, but we are all frustrated, and sometimes, if you ask me, I can’t say this, will go to the stewards.”
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.