BUDAPEST. — Charles Leclerc stunned favoriteMcLaren by seizing pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday as Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton described himself as useless and suggested he should be replaced.
Formula One leader Oscar Piastri joined Leclerc on the front row with McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris qualifying a close third in a session they had been expected to dominate.
George Russell completed the second row for Mercedes.
The pole was Ferrari’s first of the season in a regular grand prix but the contrast between Hamilton and Leclerc was painful for the Briton, who took a sprint pole in Shanghai in March but qualified only 12th.
“It’s me every time,” the seven-time world champion told Sky Sports television when explaining why he said “every time, every time” over the radio after failing to make the cut.
“I’m useless, absolutely useless.
“The team have no problem. You’ve seen the cars on pole,” he added, referring to Leclerc’s feat. “So, we probably need to change driver.”
The Hungaroring was once Hamilton’s domain, the driver enjoying an unrivalled record of eight wins and nine poles there, but he has yet to stand on a podium for Ferrari.
Leclerc has had five top-three positions, although the Monegasque had to pinch himself at Saturday’s entirely unexpected outcome.
“Today, I don’t understand anything in Formula One,” commented the driver, who exclaimed over the radio “What? Mamma Mia!” when told he was on pole by 0.026 of a second.
“Honestly, the whole qualifying was extremely difficult. When I say extremely difficult, it’s not exaggerating.
