BUDAPEST (AFP) – Lewis Hamilton received support from his Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur just hours after the Briton cut a dejected figure following a lacklustre drive to 12th place in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

While team-mate Charles Leclerc proved unable to convert Ferrari’s first pole position of the season into victory due to unexplained mechanical problems during the race, seven-time champion Hamilton was battling to escape midfield and finished where he started.

When he was dumped out of Q2 and appeared miserable, claiming he was “completely useless” and saying the team should “bring in another driver”, Hamilton seemed utterly deflated.

To most observers, it appeared as if the pressures of living up to the hype of his spectacular marquee move from Mercedes, where he won six titles, and adjusting to the culture, car and expectations at Ferrari were overwhelming him.

At 40, talk of imminent retirement circled around him. But Vasseur was swift to defend Hamilton, who has always been prone to impulsive heart-on-sleeve reactions.

“I don’t need to motivate him,” said Vasseur. “Honestly, he’s frustrated, but not demotivated.

“He’s demanding, but I think it’s also why he’s (a) seven-time world champion. I can perfectly understand this situation.

“Sometimes, just after the race or just after qualifying, you are very disappointed and the first reaction is harsh. I can understand the frustration, but we are all frustrated.”

Vasseur added Hamilton’s weekend appeared worse than it really was because of the tight and competitive times that led him to miss out on reaching Q3 on Saturday.

“For sure, when you are a seven-time world champion, your team-mate is on pole position and you are out in Q2, it’s a tough situation,” he said.

“I can understand the frustration from Lewis. That’s normal and he will come back.”

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin