Lewis Hamilton endured a frustrating Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, labelling it a weekend to forget even as he clawed his way from a lowly grid spot to a hard-fought podium.
Starting seventh after a rain-hit qualifying session derailed Ferrari’s efforts, the seven-time world champion showcased his trademark racecraft. He sliced through the field, overtaking rivals including McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, to cross the line in fourth. But a post-race disqualification for teammate Charles Leclerc – due to an underweight car – bumped Hamilton up to third.
Despite the result, Hamilton vented his disappointment over team radio and in debriefs, insisting Ferrari had squandered a shot at victory. “We had the pace to win, but strategy calls and that quali mess cost us dearly,” he said. The Briton, in his debut season with the Scuderia after switching from Mercedes, highlighted ongoing setup issues that left him exposed in variable conditions.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the missed opportunity but praised Hamilton’s drive. “Lewis was exceptional today – his overtakes were clinical. We need to fix these qualifying woes to challenge consistently.”
With the summer break looming, Hamilton sits fourth in the drivers’ standings, trailing leader Verstappen by 62 points. The 40-year-old remains optimistic about Ferrari’s potential, eyeing stronger showings post-break at Zandvoort.
