07/26/2025 – 9:04 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
For the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, things have not been going at all since moving to Ferrari. In qualifying in Spa there was now the next blow – and Hamilton itself becomes clear.
It was another horror session for Lewis Hamilton in qualifying at the Grand Prix of Belgium in Spa: Because of a violation of the track limits, its fastest time in Q1 was canceled on Saturday afternoon, the Brit only comes into the race from 16th place.
“It’s frustrating and not exactly great,” said the visibly disappointed Hamilton afterwards at Sky Sport. Even more: “It is devastating for the team. Everyone works so hard and bring great upgrades here.” Unpleasant for the 40-year-old: Team colleague Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, had no difficulties, the qualification ended in a strong fourth place. “A car delivers and I don’t,” said Hamilton. “I don’t take it so easily, I’m really sorry for the team and also for the people in the factory. It is not acceptable. I try to make it better.”
The qualification for the sprint race on Friday was Desastös: only 18th place – because Hamilton turned in the decisive round and slipped off the track. “Something like that hasn’t happened to me in my whole career,” said Hamilton at Sky afterwards. “At the moment I’m just frustrated.” At the sprint on Saturday afternoon, only 15th place for the British jumped out.
Particularly bitter: Ferrari is on the traditional route in Spa-Francorchamps with a new rear wheel suspension, which should actually bring the solution for some problems to the hard to drive. So far, this has not worked at all in the case of Hamilton.
In the overall ranking, the seven -time champion is only in sixth place at halftime of the year. From the goal of winning eight titles as the first Formula 1 driver, he is far away and is also behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, who has 19 points more in the account. Hamilton was able to win the sprint in Shanghai early in the year, otherwise there is hardly any reason to be happy in the first year after its spectacular change from Mercedes.