Seven-time champion fuels speculation of exit with series of despondent comments after Ferrari team principle seen visiting Mercedes

Hamilton raced to 12th position—the worst result of his Ferrari career—after starting from the same place on a weekend in which teammate Charles Leclerc claimed pole position and led swathes of the race until a mysterious and undiagnosed issue slowed his car.

Despite Lewis Hamilton’s recent comments referring to himself as “absolutely useless”, Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur defended the seven-time World Champion, saying he is “frustrated but not demotivated.