Lewis Hamilton mentioned he wanted to apologise to his Ferrari group after describing his successive early qualifying eliminations on the Belgian Grand Prix as “very poor” and “unacceptable”.
Amid a depressing Dash weekend thus far for the seven-time world champion at Spa-Francorchamps, Hamilton has did not clear the primary hurdle in both of the occasion’s two qualifying periods.
In Friday’s Dash Qualifying, the Ferrari driver spun on the finish of his remaining lap in SQ1 and certified 18th.
Then, having completed fifteenth within the short-form Saturday race itself, Hamilton dropped out early once more foremost qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix – this time after a monitor limits infringement on the prime of Eau Rouge on his remaining lap noticed his seventh-quickest time deleted by Race Management.
The lack of his quickest lap left Hamilton in sixteenth place on Sunday’s grid, 13 locations behind team-mate Charles Leclerc who impressed by beating Dash victor Max Verstappen to the pinnacle of the second row behind the dominant McLaren drivers.
A upset Hamilton made no excuses for his travails, telling Sky Sports activities F1 after qualifying: “From my aspect, one other mistake.
“I actually have gotten to look internally.
“I have got to apologise to my team because it’s just unacceptable to be out in both Q1s.
“It is a very, very poor efficiency from myself.”
On how he had felt with the car, which has featured an upgrade to its rear suspension this weekend, said: “We made some modifications [for qualifying].
“The car didn’t feel terrible. It was even tough for us because we had to put a second set [of tyres on] to get through Q1.”
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Qualifying highlights from the Belgian Grand Prix on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamp.
Hamilton now faces an uphill battle to even rating a handful of factors in Sunday’s 44-lap race, though the prospect of Sunday rain could assist his possibilities of producing a drive by way of the sector.
“I don’t think there’s really much we can do [with the car],” mentioned Hamilton, who had began no decrease than fourth in his earlier eight Belgian GPs.
“I will just try and start where I am and see where I can get from there.”
’Most likely it for the remainder of the 12 months’ – Hamilton on Ferrari’s 2026 focus shift
Though Leclerc was each happy and shocked to qualify as excessive as third, Ferrari’s hole to the McLarens in qualifying was nonetheless three tenths of a second regardless of the arrival of the SF-25’s new rear suspension.
Hamilton admits that, with 2026’s large regulation change now lower than six months away, Ferrari’s manufacturing unit focus is now set to be on F1’s new period.
“We are trying to do the best with what we have. Everyone is working flat out back at the factory,” he mentioned.
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Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton spins out of Dash Qualifying on the Belgian Grand Prix.
“We have had upgrades but that’s probably it for the rest of the year, then I think the focus back at the factory at least is to focus on next year’s car.
“This season has been a tough one.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s dwell Belgian GP schedule
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Look again at a number of the most dramatic moments all through the years on the Belgian Grand Prix
Sunday July 27
7.25am: F3 Function Race
8.55am: F2 Function Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Belgian GP build-up*
2pm: THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered flag: Belgian GP response*
5pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally dwell on Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion
The 2025 Formulation 1 season resumes with the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday with lights out at 2pm, dwell on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
