Spa setback forces self-evaluation
Lewis Hamilton took full responsibility for the error that led to his crash during the final practice session at Spa-Francorchamps, an incident he believes cost the team valuable time and potentially derailed their chances of a stronger finish in the Belgian Grand Prix. He ended the race in fourth place, but admitted he had hoped to compete for the podium or even the win if he had been able to complete the session without incident. The damage from the crash required his car to undergo numerous repairs ahead of qualifying, limiting his track presence during the key session.
Compounding his challenges, Hamilton saw his teammate Charles Leclerc qualify and finish ahead of him for the second consecutive race. Leclerc's performance was further boosted by a Virtual Safety Car that came at the perfect moment for the Monegasque, allowing him to make up valuable time. Leclerc eventually crossed the finish line just two seconds behind race winner Kimi Antonelli, currently the championship leader.
Hungaroring presents opportunity and challenge
Hamilton heads to the Hungaroring this weekend, a track where he has built an unrivaled record by winning a staggering eight times since the circuit's return to the Formula 1 calendar. The twisty nature of the track aligns perfectly with the strengths of Ferrari's car, especially in tight and technical corners. With strong performances at both Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, the Scuderia is expected to be particularly competitive here, making the pressure on Hamilton even greater.
Ferrari’s rise in form has been underpinned by a resurgence in Leclerc’s performances, who has found a renewed sense of control over the 2026-spec cars. His recent results, including a close second at Spa, have given the team greater confidence going into Budapest. For Hamilton, this resurgence is another factor in the growing pressure to deliver results and maintain his position in the championship.
Currently sitting in second place in the Drivers' Championship, Hamilton moved ahead of his former teammate George Russell after Russell was involved in a first-lap collision that led to him spinning out of the race. Russell later received a five-second time penalty for the incident. However, Hamilton remains 45 points behind Antonelli, the championship leader, after six races have been completed.
Focus and improvement on his mind
During an interview with Sky Sports F1, Hamilton made it clear that he needs to elevate his performance, particularly in avoiding costly mistakes like the one at Spa. 'I can't afford weekends like this,' he stated, emphasizing the need for a more consistent and error-free approach moving forward. He remains optimistic about the team's progress, pointing to the ongoing development of the car and the improvements being made to close the gap with the leading teams.
Hamilton acknowledged the incident at Spa as a wake-up call and a sign that he needs to adapt his mindset and strategy for the upcoming races. He is confident that the pace the team has shown at recent events can be a foundation for success at the Hungaroring, one of his most successful circuits and a place where he claimed his most recent pole position in 2023.
Leclerc, while still cautious about declaring a breakthrough, admitted he has made progress in adapting to the new cars. He highlighted the need to continue working on his driving style to extract maximum performance, as some technical aspects of the car still don’t allow him to drive entirely naturally. 'There are still things I have to drive around,' he said, acknowledging that these limitations are slowing him down on certain parts of the track.
Leclerc remained focused on a race-by-race approach, explaining that with the 2026 cars, consistency is hard to achieve and that small details can have a big impact. 'With what you do with your driving, it's never a given that you get the same deployment from one lap to another,' he said. This uncertainty is one of the frustrating aspects of the current season, but Leclerc said he is taking comfort in the improvements he has made so far.