Lewis Hamilton said he was "just useless" after qualifying 12th for the Hungarian Grand Prix while his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc took pole position.

Hamilton failed to progress beyond the second qualifying session after struggling for pace compared to Leclerc all weekend.

According to the BBC, Leclerc took Ferrari's first grand prix pole position of the year, although Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race from pole at the second event of the season.

A downcast Hamilton said: "I drove terribly. It is what it is."

He added: "I'm just useless," and said his lack of pace was "nothing to do with the car".

In Hungary, Hamilton was 0.247 seconds slower than Leclerc in the second part of qualifying, in which he was knocked out and the Monegasque was sixth fastest.

Hamilton is 12-5 down to Leclerc on their qualifying head-to-head this year, at an average pace difference of 0.146secs.

His form on Saturdays in 2025 continues the struggles in qualifying Hamilton had against George Russell in his final year at Mercedes last season.

Even so, his result in Hungary bucks a trend in which he has generally been much closer to Leclerc since the seventh race of the season.

Belgium last weekend, in which he was knocked out in the first session in qualifying for both the sprint and the grand prix after making mistakes, had been an exception to that run.

Although clearly frustrated by his own performance, Hamilton congratulated Leclerc on his pole.

"It's amazing for the team that the car is capable of being on pole," the seven-time champion said, "so big congrats to Charles."

Leclerc came into the weekend talking about how he had never gelled with the Hungaroring during his career, but he ends Saturday with arguably the most surprising and unexpected pole position of the year.

Leclerc had been third fastest behind the McLarens in all three practice sessions, but the world champions appeared out of reach.