Lewis Hamilton in disagreement with F1 reporter after Hungarian GP misery

Lewis Hamilton had a bizarre disagreement with an F1 reporter after his latest qualifying struggles in Hungary. The Ferrari driver will start today's Grand Prix 12th on the grid after failing to make it through Q2.

It follows him being knocked out in the first part of both sprint and full-length qualifying last weekend in Belgium. Hamilton's display was made worse by dint of the fact that Scuderia team-mate Charles Leclerc qualified on pole. Afterwards, the 40-year-old pulled no punches when reviewing his display.

Asked what happened by Channel 4 F1 man Lawrence Barretto, a miserable Hamilton replied: "I'm just useless." He said the same line again when asked to repeat himself.

Barretto replied with: "But that isn't obviously the case, is it?" Disagreeing with the seasoned reporter, Hamilton said: "It clearly is. I just drove terribly."

Hamilton has been regularly outperformed by Leclerc in qualifying this season. The Monegasque man produced a stunning lap to take pole ahead of Oscar Piastri, and the seven-time world champion implied his partner's feat was a minor consolation.

"There's nothing positive about today, apart from the fact that Charles is on pole, which is a congratulations to him," he continued. "It's really great for the team."

Hamilton currently lies sixth in the drivers' standings, 30 points off Lecler in fifth. He's taken the chequered flag just once in red, at the Saturday sprint race in China.

He wasn't the only former world champion to struggle in qualifying this weekend. Max Verstappen could only finish eighth in his Red Bull, behind Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto.