In a startling admission after Saturday's qualifying session, seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton declared himself 'absolutely useless' and suggested Ferrari should consider replacing him.
The British racing icon, who made the high-profile switch to Ferrari this season, could only manage 12th place in qualifying for this weekend's Grand Prix - a result that left him visibly frustrated.
Hamilton's Brutal Self-Assessment
'I don't know what I'm doing wrong,' Hamilton told reporters. 'The car has potential but I can't seem to extract it. Right now, I'm absolutely useless out there. Maybe Ferrari should put someone else in the seat.'
The shocking comments came after a qualifying session where Hamilton was nearly a second off the pace of his teammate Charles Leclerc, who qualified in the top five.
Ferrari's Response
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur moved quickly to support his star driver: 'Lewis is being too hard on himself. We're still adapting to each other. This is a marathon, not a sprint.'
However, pundits have noted that Hamilton's struggles come at a crucial time for Ferrari, who are locked in a tight battle for second place in the constructors' championship.
What Next for the F1 Legend?
With Sunday's race looming, all eyes will be on whether Hamilton can turn his weekend around. The 39-year-old has built his legendary career on remarkable comeback drives, but this may be one of his toughest challenges yet.
Former world champion Damon Hill commented: 'This is classic Lewis - brutally honest when things aren't working. But writing him off would be foolish. If anyone can bounce back, he can.'
