Lewis Hamilton works with new performance engineer at Spa in bid to boost Ferrari progress. Lewis Hamilton debuts a new performance engineer in Belgium as part of his push to unlock Ferrari’s potential.

A new face joins the team
During the Thursday press conference held at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton spoke openly about his efforts to help push Scuderia Ferrari forward in every area. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion emphasised that his mission at Ferrari goes far beyond just his driving performance on the racetrack. He is also focused on encouraging improvements in all operational sectors, including the factory work at Maranello.

A particular point of emphasis for Lewis Hamilton is the development and recognition of internal talent within the team. He reiterated that he believes Ferrari has enormous untapped potential, and he is determined to help the team unlock it. This commitment includes empowering skilled individuals across various departments and ensuring their contributions are recognised and valued.

In line with this vision, there has been a notable development within Lewis Hamilton’s trackside team during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. Specifically, a new performance engineer has joined the group that works directly with Lewis Hamilton during the race weekend. According to information confirmed by ScuderiaFans.com — and in line with what was previously reported by journalist Daniele Sparisci of Corriere della Sera — this new figure has been promoted from Ferrari’s remote garage operations based in Maranello. The decision to bring this individual to the track signals Ferrari’s intent to strengthen the technical support surrounding Hamilton and to explore fresh ideas in setup and performance optimization.

However, Friday brought disappointment
Despite the positive intention to reinforce the technical team, Friday’s action at Spa-Francorchamps turned out to be particularly disappointing for Lewis Hamilton. In the Sprint Qualifying session, the British driver experienced a major setback after spinning out and ultimately finishing only in eighteenth position. This unexpected result surprised many and triggered strong reactions across the Italian sports press.

Corriere della Sera did not mince words, describing the outcome as “a flop and a page to be erased,” while also referring to “the shame of the third-to-last time on the timesheets.” Quotidiano Sportivo echoed a similar sentiment, characterising it as a “flop” and depicting “a disheartened Hamilton.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport offered a slightly more moderate interpretation. While still acknowledging the tough moment for the former world champion, the newspaper focused on the fact that “the road ahead is still uphill” and referenced the “troubled year” Hamilton has been facing so far in his first season with Scuderia Ferrari.

La Repubblica emphasised “a spin that really hurts” and claimed that it brought an abrupt “game over to the good intentions” that Lewis Hamilton had arrived in Belgium with. Meanwhile, La Stampa highlighted the psychological dimension of the situation, stating that “the nightmare continues” for a Lewis Hamilton “who doesn’t seem to know whether he’s more angry or embarrassed” by his recent performances.