The plot thickens. Lewis Hamilton on Sunday made the cryptic claim that there was ‘stuff going on in the background’, as his self-flagellation continued in a round of bizarre interviews after another bruising race in Budapest.
But the seven-time world champion ruled out an instant retirement, confirming that he would be in the Ferrari cockpit when Formula One returns after the summer break in Holland on August 31.
It was another dismal day for the seven-time world champion at the Hungaroring after his mind-scrambling Saturday, when he qualified 12th in contrast to team-mate Charles Leclerc’s pole position.
‘Absolutely useless’ was his description of himself that night, saying Ferrari should replace him with another driver.
On Sunday he finished 12th, to Leclerc’s fourth, and was lapped – a display that hardly bandaged his wounded psyche.
In one interview, he said: ‘There is a lot going on in the background that is not great.’ It is unclear what he was referring to.
Of his comments on Saturday he told Sky: ‘When you have a feeling, you have a feeling.’ He then added that he still loved Ferrari, where he is paid £60million a year.
He also said he did not recall Red Bull’s Max Verstappen passing him on the inside of Turn 4, a bold move that resulted in Hamilton veering off track and both men being summoned by the stewards (no action was taken).
Clearly, Hamilton needs a rest, his confidence shot after all the hoopla of his move to Ferrari went flat. He had hoped to revivify his career aged 40 in the famous red car, yet he is 42 points behind Leclerc after 14 podium-less races in which he has only twice finished ahead of the Monegasque.
But his team principal Fred Vasseur backed Hamilton. ‘I don’t need to motivate him,’ said the Frenchman. ‘He’s frustrated but not demotivated. I can perfectly understand the situation.’
There is the question of reputational damage to Hamilton’s legacy if he cannot arrest his malaise soon. But his former Mercedes boss Toto Wolff provided a rousing pep talk, saying: ‘He is the GOAT. He will always be.
‘Nobody is going to take it away for any single weekend or a race season that hasn’t gone to plan. He always needs to remember – that he is the greatest of all time.’
