Lewis Hamilton Faces Difficult Hungarian GP Qualifying: Ferrari Struggles Continue While Leclerc Secures Pole

Lewis Hamilton's Challenging Qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix

Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton experienced a difficult qualifying session at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, finishing in 12th place for Sunday’s race at the iconic Hungaroring circuit. A track where Hamilton has historically dominated—holding the all-time record with nine victories—became the scene of his latest struggles since joining Ferrari.

A Downward Spiral in Qualifying Performance

Heading into Budapest, Hamilton aimed for his first podium finish of the season with the Scuderia. However, his hopes quickly faded during the crucial Q2 session of qualifying. After an initial run that left him sitting 11th, Hamilton was pushed to improve on his final attempt to secure a spot in Q3. Although he managed to shave off some precious tenths, it was only enough to temporarily put him seventh before easing off, ultimately dropping down the leaderboard as rivals improved their lap times.

By the end of Q2, Hamilton found himself in 13th—marginally bumped up to 12th only after Kimi Antonelli’s fastest lap time was deleted for exceeding track limits. For Hamilton, this marked his fourth time missing out on Q3 in the current season and his worst Hungaroring qualifying since 2014, when mechanical issues forced him to start from the pit lane.

Comparing Teammates: Leclerc Takes Stunning Pole for Ferrari

Adding to Hamilton's woes, his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc clinched a dramatic pole position for Sunday’s race, edging out championship leader Oscar Piastri by less than a tenth of a second. Leclerc’s superb performance highlighted the potential of the 2025 Ferrari F1 car—a point Hamilton himself emphasized in post-session interviews, humbly acknowledging his own disappointment and congratulating the team.

“Clearly the car is competitive, as Charles showed with a fantastic pole position,” Hamilton told the press. “The car has what it takes; it is the driver today who came up short.”

Hamilton’s Ongoing Struggles at Ferrari

This qualifying result continues a trend of tough Saturdays for Hamilton at Ferrari. In both Sprint and main race qualifying sessions in 2025, Leclerc has out-qualified Hamilton 12 times, underlining the Monegasque’s strong one-lap pace in the new Ferrari. Even though Hamilton secured a Sprint pole and victory in Shanghai earlier in the year, Leclerc has outpaced him in eight of the last ten qualifying sessions—often by substantial margins, such as at Bahrain where Leclerc was nearly six tenths of a second faster.

Although Hamilton did manage to beat Leclerc in qualifying at Spain and Canada, he has only finished ahead of his teammate once in the last four races. In Budapest, the gap between the two Ferrari drivers hovered around three tenths of a second—crucially at a venue where Leclerc has previously struggled.

Performance Analysis: Vehicle Specifications and On-Track Rivalry

The performance of Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 car has been a talking point throughout the season. Boasting a refined aerodynamic package and an upgraded power unit, the SF-25 has proven capable of matching the pace of championship rivals in qualifying trim. While Leclerc has consistently extracted maximum performance from the car, Hamilton has struggled with both balance and extracting optimal tire performance in critical moments.

Hamilton’s qualifying battles against Leclerc have often been decided by tenths, but it’s Leclerc’s ability to adapt to changing conditions and maximize grip that has made the difference. Hamilton’s feedback suggests he is still searching for confidence behind the wheel—a stark contrast to his previous years of dominance in Mercedes machinery.

Race Day Struggles Versus Qualifying Pace

Hamilton’s head-to-head race results against Leclerc in 2025 provide further context on their on-track rivalry. So far, Hamilton has only finished ahead of Leclerc in two Grand Prix events—Imola and Silverstone. However, these results came with their own caveats: at Imola, a strategic error and a late safety car cost Leclerc positions, while at Silverstone, a risky tire gamble left the Monegasque out of contention as weather conditions changed rapidly.

Comparisons and Market Positioning: Ferrari vs. Rivals

The 2025 Ferrari SF-25 remains a strong contender in the intense battle at the front of the Formula 1 grid. While dominant qualifying pace and pole positions underline the car’s outright speed, consistency over a race distance and driver synergy are proving to be crucial factors. With Charles Leclerc now holding a 30-point advantage over Hamilton in the drivers’ standings, the intra-team dynamic at Ferrari mirrors classic F1 rivalries from previous decades.

For car enthusiasts and F1 fans, the story is one of expectation versus execution: Ferrari has delivered a car that is frequently a match for its rivals in technical specification, but Hamilton is under pressure to adapt and return to the front of the grid—especially as his global fanbase watches closely.

Looking Ahead: Potential for Redemption

Heading into the summer break, Hamilton finds solace in his performances during the Sprint events, including a Shanghai Sprint victory and a podium in Miami. However, his overall points tally sees him trailing Leclerc, who has demonstrated both raw pace and racecraft in the latest Ferrari. With races still to come, Hamilton and his team must unlock the consistency and confidence needed to get back to winning ways in Formula 1.

For Ferrari supporters and automotive aficionados alike, the drama surrounding Hamilton’s adjustment to Maranello’s prestigious but demanding environment is sure to remain a focal point of the 2025 Grand Prix season.