Lewis Hamilton’s Belgian Grand Prix Woes Raise Questions About Confidence and Ferrari Adaptation
Scuderia Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has historically enjoyed strong performances at the Belgian Grand Prix throughout his illustrious Formula 1 career. With the exception of a few retirements, the seven-time World Champion has only twice finished outside the top three at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. During his debut Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton secured a fourth-place finish, and in 2023, he once again narrowly missed out on a podium result.
Given this impressive record at the iconic Belgian circuit, Ferrari had entered the weekend with high hopes that Hamilton would finally secure his first podium finish in the team’s famous red racing overalls. However, what initially seemed like a promising opportunity quickly turned into a deeply frustrating weekend for the 40-year-old driver and the Maranello-based outfit.
The challenges began during Sprint Qualifying, where an uncharacteristic error saw Hamilton eliminated in Q1. As he approached the Bus Stop chicane, the British driver spun, a rare mistake that instantly jeopardized his prospects for the rest of the weekend.
Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle expressed concern after reviewing Hamilton’s performance in the Sprint Race itself, in which the Ferrari driver could only recover to 15th position. Martin Brundle noted that Hamilton appeared uncomfortable and uncompetitive throughout the short-format race, raising doubts about his confidence and connection with the SF-25.
Saturday’s main qualifying session initially brought some signs of improvement. Hamilton successfully progressed beyond the first qualifying segment (Q1), suggesting that the earlier issues might have been isolated. However, his best lap time was subsequently deleted due to a track limits infringement, which sent him tumbling down the order to 16th on the grid—far from where a multiple World Champion would have expected to start Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Former Formula 1 driver and current Channel 4 analyst Mark Webber provided a deeper look into Hamilton’s difficulties after analyzing onboard footage from qualifying. Webber pointed out a specific moment at the infamous Eau Rouge-Raidillon section where Hamilton appeared to have all four wheels off the track, suggesting a lack of precision or possibly confidence in the car’s behavior, despite Ferrari’s recent upgrades, including a revised rear suspension system.
Mark Webber explained that while watching the onboard footage from Hamilton’s final flying lap, the moment at the crest of Eau Rouge stood out. According to Webber’s analysis, Hamilton was already at a disadvantage, which the driver himself had indirectly acknowledged post-session. The telemetry showed only minor steering input corrections, which suggested that the misjudgment may have stemmed more from visual limitations than from car instability. Webber remarked that from the driver’s eyeline, spotting the white line cresting over the hill is extremely difficult—making precision at that corner particularly challenging.
Despite the minor nature of the error, it was enough to invalidate Hamilton’s lap and eliminate his chances of advancing. Webber emphasized that Lewis Hamilton had already used two sets of tyres during Q1, placing him at a further disadvantage. Meanwhile, his teammate Charles Leclerc managed to qualify on the second row of the grid, highlighting the disparity in performance between the two Ferrari drivers during the session. Webber concluded that it had been a harsh and punishing day for Hamilton, particularly given his elite experience and the expectations surrounding Ferrari’s continued resurgence.
Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz also weighed in on Hamilton’s recent struggles, suggesting that the absence of Peter Bonnington—Hamilton’s long-time race engineer at Mercedes—could be a contributing factor. Since joining Ferrari, Hamilton has been working with Riccardo Adami, an experienced engineer within the Scuderia, but one with a distinctly different style and rapport compared to Bonnington.
According to Kravitz, the contrast in communication between Hamilton and Adami has been noticeable, particularly during tense qualifying moments such as the one at Spa. When Hamilton’s Q1 time was deleted, his interaction with Adami appeared strained and lacked the familiarity that had been a hallmark of his previous radio conversations with Bonnington.
Adapting to Ferrari has proven to be a complex transition for Hamilton, not only in terms of personnel but also technically. The Scuderia’s braking systems differ significantly from what Hamilton was accustomed to at Mercedes, and the procedural nuances at both the Maranello factory and on Grand Prix weekends have required substantial adjustment. These factors may have compounded the challenges he faced at Spa-Francorchamps, a track where precision, confidence, and setup are critically important.
While Riccardo Adami could do little to change the outcome of qualifying, his role will become even more crucial in Sunday’s race, especially given the likelihood of unpredictable weather. With Hamilton starting from 16th on the grid, strategy will be key to salvaging a meaningful result. The 40-year-old veteran will need to rely on Adami and the entire Ferrari pit wall to make the right calls if he hopes to mount a charge through the field and possibly recover points.
Despite the difficulties, Hamilton remains one of the most experienced and accomplished drivers on the grid. But the events at the Belgian Grand Prix have raised questions about his current confidence level and how effectively he is adapting to the Ferrari environment—both technically and operationally—as the team seeks to close the gap to rivals like McLaren and Red Bull Racing.
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