Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari entered the Belgian Grand Prix weekend with a sense of optimism, buoyed by recent performances and new upgrades. Hamilton, who had been finding his footing with Ferrari, achieved personal best finishes at both the Austrian and British Grands Prix in recent weeks, and showed promise by outqualifying teammate Charles Leclerc in three of the last four races. The team hoped that their new rear suspension upgrades would enhance their performance.
Qualifying for the race presented a stark contrast, as Leclerc secured a strong third place on the grid, notably outpacing sprint race winner Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, Hamilton faced considerable difficulties, qualifying in a disappointing 16th place after his struggles continued at Spa. He was eliminated early in qualifying, falling victim to a spin and a breach of track limits, which prevented him from advancing, despite a lap that put him just behind Leclerc.
Hamilton expressed frustration following the session, feeling the decision on track limits was stringent. He acknowledged his performance shortcomings and took responsibility for his early exit, stating it was unacceptable, particularly as he reflected on the team’s efforts and his own need for internal improvement.
Leclerc remained optimistic about the upgrades, recognizing that while they are a step forward, significant performance gaps still exist relative to front-runners like McLaren. He noted that finding the right setup has been a struggle but mentioned improvements that make the car feel better to drive. This sentiment aligns with Hamilton’s ongoing adjustments to his setups, which he has leaned toward Leclerc’s configurations as he seeks greater performance.
Despite Hamilton’s challenging weekend and the tough debut season with Ferrari, team principal Fred Vasseur dismissed concerns about his pace, indicating that the issues were more about track limits than outright speed. Vasseur praised Hamilton’s capabilities, suggesting that recovery from a low starting position could still yield points if things go well during the race.
Hamilton, a former five-time winner at this venue, aims to convert his challenging qualifying session into a respectable finish and aims to build on his recent uptick in results as the season continues. He remains determined to extract the maximum from his car and team, expressing that while they are doing their best under the current conditions, the focus at Ferrari is now shifting towards the next season’s car.
This weekend represents a crucial opportunity for Hamilton to turn his fortunes around, and a strong performance could serve to galvanize his efforts and the team’s aspirations as they navigate a challenging 2023 season.