Hamilton accused of not 'being honest' as his Hungarian GP comments 'can't be true'

Lewis Hamilton is enduring a very difficult time at Ferrari. The seven-time world champion was incredibly downbeat in Hungary, but a former F1 driver feels he may have been exaggerating.

Lewis Hamilton hasn't stood on the podium yet, and neither he nor teammate Charles Leclerc has taken a victory this year.

The British driver did had a brief upturn in form earlier this year in China as he won the Sprint but most of the campaign has been a struggle.

Last time out in Hungary, Hamilton got knocked out in Q2 and finished a lap behind race winner Lando Norris at the Hungaroring.

Hamilton called himself 'useless' after qualifying in Hungary but former Formula 1 driver Christian Danner told Motorsport-Magazin that the 40-year-old may have exaggerated.

He said: "Lewis Hamilton is so hard on himself that he acts as if he has forgotten how to drive. Sorry, but that seemed a bit exaggerated to me, in the sense that it was a bit more staged than it actually is."

Danner feels Hamilton did it 'on purpose'

Lewis Hamilton during the Hungarian Grand Prix

"This is how I raise awareness in a world that knows I'm not that bad. I'm pretty sure that Hamilton did that on purpose and wasn't being honest.

"He didn't honestly doubt himself. That can't be true, it doesn't fit with him. That's perfectly fine, that's how champions have to be. I don't blame him for that."

Even as they scored 12 points in Hungary, Ferrari is still holding second place in the Constructors' Championship.

The Italian team is a long way behind pacesetters McLaren but holds a slim 24-point advantage over third-placed Mercedes.

Read also

Leclerc speed mystery possibly solved by F1 analyst? 'Seems logical'

'It doesn't seem like Hamilton can contribute much to Ferrari at the moment'

Hamilton slammed with 'age has definitely caught up' dig amid troubled season