Lewis Hamilton must face crucial question, says former F1 world champion, after Spa qualifying misstep. Lewis Hamilton endured a tough Belgian Grand Prix qualifying.

Lewis Hamilton faces renewed scrutiny after tough Belgian Grand Prix qualifying session

Lewis Hamilton was left expressing regret to the Scuderia Ferrari team following a challenging qualifying performance ahead of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion will start the race from 16th on the grid, having been eliminated in Q1 due to a track limits infringement during his final flying lap at Raidillon. That lap, which could have lifted him out of the drop zone, was deleted by the stewards after they determined his car had exceeded the legal limits of the circuit.

This setback came just hours after another costly error from Lewis Hamilton during the Sprint Shootout. The British driver had suffered an uncharacteristic spin at the Bus Stop chicane, which relegated him to 18th on the Sprint grid. It has been a difficult weekend for the former Mercedes star, who has struggled to find confidence in the upgraded SF-25 compared to his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.

Despite Ferrari introducing a highly anticipated package of upgrades for this event, Hamilton has not yet been able to unlock their full potential. His pace has consistently lagged behind that of Charles Leclerc, who has once again proven to be the quicker of the two drivers across both qualifying and race simulations.

During an episode of the Chequered Flag podcast, 1996 Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill offered his thoughts on Hamilton’s situation at Ferrari. Hill suggested that one major question continues to loom over Hamilton’s time with the Scuderia: whether the British driver is truly capable of winning with the Italian team.

While Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari stint began with promise — highlighted by a Sprint race victory in Shanghai earlier this season — the subsequent races have failed to build upon that momentum. Leclerc has consistently outqualified and outraced Lewis Hamilton, and the seven-time champion is still waiting for his first Grand Prix podium as a Ferrari driver.

Hill noted that Hamilton’s move to Maranello was motivated by his ambition to succeed where legends like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel fell short. But so far, the results have not lived up to those high expectations. According to Hill, this latest disappointing qualifying session — which saw Leclerc claim third place while Hamilton languished outside the top 15 — adds to the growing uncertainty surrounding whether the 2025 campaign will be a breakthrough or a season filled with frustration for the British driver.

Hill reflected on the current dynamic within Ferrari, observing that once again, Charles Leclerc had secured a strong grid position, while Lewis Hamilton’s struggles continued. He questioned whether this season might ultimately be remembered as a prolonged struggle for Hamilton to achieve results that reflect his immense talent and experience, especially given his lofty ambitions with Ferrari.

Adding further insight, former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson evaluated Hamilton’s deleted Q1 lap. Davidson stated that there was no ambiguity about the track limits violation at Raidillon. The stewards’ decision came after reviewing onboard and static camera footage, which clearly showed Hamilton’s wheels touching the blue-painted area beyond the white line — a visual indicator used to identify when a car has exceeded track boundaries.

Anthony Davidson explained that once viewed from an alternative angle, the evidence of the infraction was “clear as day.” He noted that any doubts regarding the legality of Hamilton’s lap were removed by the still images, which captured the moment his Ferrari stepped outside the permissible track limits.

As the race approaches, Lewis Hamilton will be aiming to recover from 16th on the grid and attempt to claw his way into the points-paying positions. Meanwhile, his teammate Charles Leclerc will line up in third place after posting an impressive late lap in Q3, which bumped Max Verstappen down to fourth. With contrasting fortunes at Ferrari this weekend, all eyes will be on whether Lewis Hamilton can produce a fightback drive and whether the upgrades will finally begin to deliver the consistent performance he has been searching for.