A downcast Lewis Hamilton apologised to his Ferrari team and blasted his “unacceptable” performance in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on Saturday.
Hamilton will start from 16th on the grid after watching his lap time in Q1 deleted by FIA Race Control for a track limits violation. The 40-year-old was found to have gone all four wheels off at Radillion and consequently saw his lap time deleted, dropping him to P16 and out of qualifying as the checkered flag had already been waved.
The Briton found himself in a dropzone as the checkered flag waved at the end of Q1, but he appeared to have done enough as he lifted himself up to seventh and consigned Gabriel Bortoleto to the elimination zone. However, he learned his fate over the team radio from race engineer Riccardo Adami, with Sauber’s Bortoleto reinstated and later going on to reach Q3.
It came less than 24 hours after Hamilton was knocked out of SQ1 ahead of the F1 Sprint race, where he started 18th and finished 15th. The disconsolate veteran refused to blame his car for his troubles and revealed another error on his part cost him dearly in Belgium.
Asked about his Q1 exit by Sky Sports F1, Hamilton said: “We made some changes, the car didn’t feel terrible but it wasn’t so easy to [control]. We had to push on a fresh set to get through Q1 so not great.
“And from my side, another mistake. I’ve got to apologise to my team because it’s unacceptable to be out in Q1. Very poor performance from myself.
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Hamilton problems exacerbated by Leclerc
With several teams bringing upgrades over the summer break, Hamilton confirmed Ferrari would no longer work to improve their car back at the factory and are concentrating on 2026.
“We’re trying to do the best with what we have and obviously everyone’s working flat-out at the factory,” Hamilton added, “We’ve had upgrades, but I think that’s it for the rest of the year and our focus – back at the factory – is on next year’s car.
The Briton won’t need telling just how much work he has to do to get into points contention on Sunday, and his misery was compounded by team-mate Charles Leclerc’s surprise performance in qualifying.
Leclerc had been on pole in each of the last two races at Spa, so his general pace was to be expected. But considering Ferrari’s struggles with rear balance and grip, the Monegasque’s effort to put his SF-75 third on the grid was certainly a statement performance.
His lap time was only bettered by the two McLarens, polesitter Lando Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri, with Leclerc even faster than F1 Sprint race winner Max Verstappen.
With Leclerc and Hamilton battling for fifth and sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, Leclerc will be pleased to have 13 grid spots between himself and the seven-time world champion.
