Lewis Hamilton reminded the Tifosi at the Belgian Grand Prix that he remains a force to be reckoned with, even in his 18th season competing in Formula 1. While the weekend began with setbacks, the seven-time world champion demonstrated his enduring skill and strategic awareness during the race at Spa-Francorchamps.
The weekend initially looked bleak for the British driver. Ferrari had introduced a new update package intended to boost the performance of both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc. Optimism surrounded the development, but complications quickly emerged. A revised brake system on Hamilton’s SF-25 led to a spin during Sprint qualifying, echoing a similar incident that caused Charles Leclerc to crash during a practice session in Canada when Ferrari had tested the same setup.
As a result, Hamilton failed to score any points in the Sprint Race and then faced another blow when he was eliminated in Q1 for Sunday’s main event due to a marginal track limits infringement in the sodden qualifying session.
Former World Champion Damon Hill questioned Hamilton’s qualifying performance, but the Ferrari driver made up for it with an impressive recovery during the Grand Prix. He managed to execute five on-track overtakes, then jumped ahead of six more drivers by making a perfectly timed early pit stop, one lap before his closest rivals. This smart tactical decision drew praise from fans, who viewed it as a masterclass in race management.
However, Hamilton’s progress was eventually stalled once he reached the back of Alex Albon’s Williams. Despite several attempts, he was unable to find a way past and ultimately had to settle for a seventh-place finish. Former F1 driver Anthony Davidson offered an explanation for why Hamilton’s charge was cut short in the final phase of the race.
While analysing the event for Sky Sports F1, Davidson observed that for a significant portion of the Grand Prix, Hamilton had been instructed by the Ferrari pit wall to engage in “lift and coast” techniques. This method involves easing off the throttle before braking zones to manage fuel usage, power unit temperatures, or other technical concerns. Davidson suggested that this instruction severely compromised Hamilton’s pace and limited his ability to attack the Williams driver ahead.
He noted that the team’s radio messages implied the lift-and-coast strategy had been implemented for over half the race distance. At one point, Hamilton had reportedly questioned whether the instruction was still necessary, only to be told by the team that he must continue with the strategy until the end of the race. According to Davidson, this persistent fuel-saving tactic likely prevented Hamilton from mounting a successful challenge against Albon.
Ted Kravitz joined the discussion, speculating that the lift-and-coast directive may have been related to an ongoing issue Ferrari has faced throughout the 2025 season: excessive wear of the underfloor plank. Both Ferrari drivers have raised concerns about the car’s ride height and ground contact, making such fuel- and speed-conserving measures a recurring theme this year.
Despite the frustrations, the Briton maintained a positive outlook after the race. While he had been cautious early in the weekend about the impact of Ferrari’s latest upgrades, his comments following the Grand Prix reflected satisfaction with the team’s progress. In his post-race media session, Hamilton described the result as a clear step forward.
He explained that the strategy and pit stops had been executed flawlessly and credited overnight setup changes for helping him feel more at ease behind the wheel. The improved comfort translated into a stronger performance, and he expressed gratitude to the Ferrari staff back at Maranello for their efforts in delivering the new package. The 40-year-old said the team could now build on this momentum heading into the second half of the season, beginning with the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Mark Webber, another former F1 driver, had earlier expressed concerns about Hamilton’s confidence in the car after reviewing his onboard footage from qualifying. However, by Sunday, Lewis Hamilton appeared reinvigorated. His mid-race charge and bold overtaking manoeuvres were evidence that, with the right setup and race conditions, he can still be a serious contender.
If the Briton and Ferrari can resolve their lingering qualifying issues—particularly with one-lap pace—the podium could soon be within reach. The upcoming race in Hungary, a circuit that traditionally rewards driver skill and aerodynamic balance, offers a prime opportunity for both Hamilton and Ferrari to convert progress into results.
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