Lewis Hamilton labeled his qualifying performance for the Belgian Grand Prix as “unacceptable” after being knocked out in Q1 for both the Sprint and the main Grand Prix. Starting 16th on the grid for Sunday’s race, Hamilton admitted personal responsibility for the result, which was worsened by a deleted lap time due to a track limits violation. His earlier Sprint Qualifying effort had already ended in disappointment after a rare spin, which he attributed partly to a new component on his Ferrari.
Hamilton explained that despite some adjustments to the car, it didn’t drastically improve his comfort or performance. He noted that the team had to use an extra set of soft tyres just to try and advance beyond Q1, a tactic that still fell short due to a critical error on his part. The seven-time world champion said he needs to reflect inwardly and apologize to his team, as he believes he underperformed at a level not acceptable for a driver of his experience.
Adding to Hamilton’s woes was the strong form of his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who managed to qualify fourth for the Sprint and third for the Grand Prix. Hamilton expressed how difficult it was to see such a contrast within the same team and described the weekend as “incredibly painful,” reinforcing how much he’s struggled compared to others at Spa.
Even with a potential shakeup from rainy weather on Sunday, Hamilton wasn’t hopeful. While unpredictable conditions could offer strategic opportunities—as seen with Nico Hulkenberg’s surprise Silverstone podium—Hamilton said he felt uncertain and disheartened. He admitted it would be very difficult to recover from his low starting position and called it a weekend to forget.
Looking ahead, Hamilton acknowledged that the rest of the season might not bring major change. He said the team had already introduced their upgrades, and most of the focus has now shifted toward the development of the 2026 car. This season, he conceded, has been especially tough, and while the factory team is still working hard, they are now prioritizing long-term improvement.
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