Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged Ferrari’s current performance level following a challenging qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix. The British driver, who secured sixth place on the grid, expressed a pragmatic view of the team’s position while highlighting areas for future development. He will start the race from fifth due to a grid penalty for Lando Norris.
Ferrari and Hamilton have demonstrated a notable upturn in form during the current 2026 Formula 1 season. Hamilton has achieved four podium finishes in the last five races, including his inaugural victory for the Scuderia at the Barcelona Grand Prix.
Despite this progress, Hamilton has called for increased effort from the team. He stated on media day ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix that ‘it’s time to really crack the whip’ to further reduce the performance gap to Mercedes and their driver Kimi Antonelli.
A significant factor in Hamilton’s improved performance this season has been his decision to discontinue using Ferrari’s simulator. He revealed that the simulator often provided misleading data, and since abandoning its use, his on-track results have improved ‘massively’.
The Belgian Grand Prix weekend presented its own difficulties for Hamilton. A crash during the final Free Practice 3 session necessitated a rapid rebuild of his car, leading to a ‘subtly different’ setup for qualifying.
Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, qualified fifth for the Belgian Grand Prix. Leclerc has faced challenges adapting his aggressive driving style to the 2026 generation of cars, although he secured a victory earlier this season at Silverstone.
In the Drivers’ Championship standings, Hamilton currently holds third position, trailing Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by 32 points. Ferrari is 78 points behind Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship.
Ferrari is reportedly planning several key upgrades for upcoming races, including a new aero package for Zandvoort, a ‘Macarena Wing’ for Spa, and an engine upgrade scheduled for Monza. These developments aim to enhance top speed and overall car performance.
