Lewis Hamilton is facing one of his most challenging weekends of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Belgian Grand Prix, suffering back-to-back Q1 eliminations within the space of just 24 hours. The seven-time World Champion’s struggles at Spa-Francorchamps have raised major concerns within the Ferrari camp, with performance issues and rear-end instability at the heart of his difficulties.
On Friday, during Sprint Qualifying, Lewis Hamilton lost control of his SF-25 and spun out, leaving him stranded in 18th position on the Sprint grid. In the short 15-lap race that followed, the British driver was only able to recover three positions, finishing far outside the points. With teams allowed to adjust their car setups between the Sprint and the main qualifying session, Ferrari hoped for a turnaround — and Hamilton was reportedly keen to start afresh. However, his fortunes failed to improve.
Despite his efforts, Lewis Hamilton ended up 16th on the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix, marking his worst starting position since joining Scuderia Ferrari ahead of the 2025 campaign. His final flying lap was deleted due to a track limits infringement, which meant that what appeared to be a last-minute recovery into Q2 was short-lived. Without that lap time, Hamilton may be headed for a scoreless weekend, unless unpredictable weather shakes up the running order on race day.
Rear-end instability remains a major issue for Lewis Hamilton in 2025
Lewis Hamilton’s first timed lap in Q1 did not inspire confidence, leaving him hovering dangerously close to the drop zone as the session came to a close. When he crossed the finish line on his final effort, he had temporarily climbed to seventh place and seemed set to advance. But that lap was quickly invalidated after stewards determined that he had crossed the white line at Turn 4, resulting in the deletion of his time and elevating Gabriel Bortoleto into Q2 at his expense.
The Ferrari driver remained in the cockpit as the team awaited confirmation, but it became clear soon after that the decision would stand. Lewis Hamilton then made his way out of the Ferrari garage, visibly disappointed. His struggles have prompted deeper analysis, including comments from Ferrari ambassador and former Formula 1 driver Marc Gené, who spoke to Sky Sports F1 ahead of the main qualifying session.
According to Marc Gené, Hamilton has been vocal during technical briefings about the instability at the rear of the SF-25 — an issue that he has yet to fully overcome. Gené noted that while Charles Leclerc appears able to manage the unpredictable rear-end behavior, Lewis Hamilton continues to find it deeply unsettling. Gené explained that although there are positive signs, the British driver has not yet had a weekend where the car felt fully dialed in from start to finish.
He mentioned that Hamilton’s only competitive outing with the car so far had been the Sprint in China earlier this season. Despite incremental progress, Gené suggested that the full potential of the car-driver package has yet to be unlocked.
Encouraging signs for Lewis Hamilton fans despite Ferrari’s Spa struggles
During the Sprint race at Spa, Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle commented that Hamilton’s lack of traction was “awful,” a factor that could significantly limit his ability to move forward in Sunday’s Grand Prix. However, there may still be a glimmer of hope for the veteran driver.
Rain is forecast for race day, and although wet conditions often bring unpredictability, they may not necessarily play into Ferrari’s hands. Charles Leclerc has previously described the SF-25 as “incredibly difficult” to drive in the wet, underlining the team’s continued vulnerability in mixed conditions. The highly anticipated rear suspension upgrade that Ferrari introduced at the Belgian Grand Prix has yet to deliver the expected leap in performance.
Nonetheless, Lewis Hamilton remains fully committed behind the scenes. Despite underwhelming results and visible frustration, those close to the team insist that his motivation is undiminished. The 40-year-old is reportedly investing significant energy into working with engineers to understand the car’s weaknesses and adapt his driving style. For fans of the British superstar, that dedication offers a reason to stay optimistic — even as Spa-Francorchamps proves to be one of the lowest points of his debut season in red.
Leave a Reply