Lewis Hamilton's flirtation with retirement, for the first time, is a real option.

This isn't the first time this season that Lewis Hamilton has expressed his raw disappointment. His life at Ferrari is proving to be much harder than he could have ever imagined, and his body language tells the tale: he's absolutely devastated . Time will tell if this is a temporary disappointment or a warning that his days as a Formula 1 driver are over. His words, to say the least, were disturbing.

"I'm useless, absolutely useless," Hamilton declared at the end of qualifying. "The team has no problem, because all you have to do is look at the fact that this car is on pole, so what Ferrari needs is a driver change ." When interviewers asked him to take it easy on himself, given that he has a unique track record, the British driver didn't hold back his self-criticism: "It is what it is. I drove horribly." You never know, in such outbursts, how much is meant as venting or how much is meant as pleading to be left alone, but his words are worrying.

Fred Vasseur , the Ferrari team boss, faced with the harshness of his pupil's statements, wanted to put what had been said into perspective and put his words into context: "Sometimes, just after a race or a bad qualifying, you are very disappointed and the first reaction is harsh and hasty , but I can understand his frustration: If we were to put the microphone to a footballer, to any other sportsman in a moment of maximum frustration, I don't think the reaction would be very different," clarified Vasseur.

Lewis went too far in Hungary, having stated so explicitly on several occasions that he is the problem and that he doesn't even see a remedy or solution to it, he's never done that before. Vasseur defended him by saying that he is extremely demanding, but the first person he is most demanding of is himself. High self-demand is a hallmark of great champions, but it can be a double-edged sword because in bad times it can lead you to believe you've lost your ability.

A mental problem

What can't be taken for granted, at least not today, is that Lewis Hamilton has lost his ability to go fast in a Formula 1 car. Just a week before Hungary, he drove masterfully in the always difficult conditions at Spa-Francorchamps and was voted Driver of the Day . If his greatness reappears intermittently, it's clear that his problem is mental, not physical. When you're competing with drivers almost 20 years younger, your body can fail you, as Novak Djokovic acknowledges in five-set matches, but not in a single qualifying round.

The other big issue seen in Hungary, one that could mark a turning point , is that Lewis Hamilton did have a competitive car in his hands. Unlike other occasions, when he would switch off when he didn't smell the scent of victory, Leclerc 's pole position invalidated that alibi for the first time. And he made sure to emphasize it. Frederic Vasseur says he doesn't believe Hamilton's problem is motivation, but a look back at his racing career is enough to refute his argument.

A plugged-in Lewis Hamilton , on his best days, was always practically untouchable. Not even Fernando Alonso, at those times, could keep up with him. The difference is that Fernando has never had days away from the office, while Lewis, however, has always had plenty. He lost a world championship to Nico Rosberg and was defeated by Jenson Button at McLaren due to these temporary disconnections. The problem is that what used to be occasional has now become the norm.

In a perfect storm, there's more than just one protagonist. It could be that Ferrari doesn't inspire the confidence he needs to get the most out of his repertoire. It's also possible that the fact that Ferrari hasn't proven to be a winning car is weighing on his desire to give it his all. Finding himself among Italians for the first time outside of his traditionally super-protected British environment could shape his current ordeal.

Ferrari's pressure cooker

What's clear is that it's the mental aspect, not the physical aspect, that could retire Hamilton from Formula 1 this season . This is becoming increasingly common in high-level competition. Advances in physical preparation, nutrition, injury treatment, and recovery extend sports careers into their 40s in many cases. The mental aspect is another matter.

At 44, Fernando Alonso, driving his Aston Martin, was among the tenth-ranked drivers who could be his offspring. But even more incredible than his physical longevity is his ability to maintain mental freshness and motivation.

The Asturian has grown accustomed to living with the hardships of driving terrible cars, the measles of winning races easily, and not getting a single penny. But crossing the Rubicon, from riches to absolute poverty, in terms of sporting results, isn't easy. Sebastian Vettel is a textbook case, and Lewis Hamilton could be the next. Coincidentally, both are mentally cracking in the pressure cooker that Ferrari has always been, is, and always will be.

Qualifying twelfth and finishing the race lapped, it's safe to say that Lewis Hamilton hit rock bottom more than ever in Hungary. It's possible that if Ferrari continues to progress and the seven-time world champion feels comfortable with his car again, all this will remain a pipe dream. But what's undeniable is that the first warning has arrived . The possibility of Lewis Hamilton retiring from Formula 1 is real.