Lewis Hamilton concluded the Belgian Grand Prix in fourth position, asserting that Ferrari held the necessary pace to contend for victory at Spa-Francorchamps. The race weekend proved challenging for the seven-time world champion, marked by an opening-lap collision, car damage, a time penalty, and a pit lane incident.
The initial lap saw Hamilton involved in contact with former Mercedes teammate George Russell at Les Combes. Hamilton had overtaken Russell on the Kemmel Straight before the incident, which resulted in Russell spinning into the gravel and retiring from the race.
Stewards subsequently issued Hamilton a five-second time penalty for causing the collision. Hamilton maintained it was a racing incident, a sentiment echoed by Russell, who declined to place blame on the Ferrari driver.
Russell’s early exit was compounded by a reported Mercedes power unit issue, specifically a lack of battery deployment on the Kemmel Straight. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed this deficiency affected all Mercedes engines.
Hamilton’s Ferrari SF-26 sustained damage during the opening lap contact. He continued the 44-lap race with this damage, impacting the car’s performance throughout the event.
Further complications arose during Hamilton’s sole pit stop under a Virtual Safety Car. After serving his five-second penalty, Ferrari released the car while a mechanic was still attempting a front wing adjustment.
The mechanic was struck by the front-right tyre but fortunately escaped injury. The FIA stewards investigated the unsafe release post-race.
Ferrari received a €30,000 fine for the incident, with €10,000 suspended for 12 months. Hamilton was cleared of responsibility, as the stewards cited communication issues and an ‘unusual combination of circumstances’.
The stewards noted that the pit stop delay itself constituted a sporting disadvantage for Hamilton. Ferrari committed to reviewing their pit stop procedures to prevent future occurrences.
Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, secured second place at Spa, demonstrating strong race pace and strategic execution. Leclerc had a mixed practice but qualified fourth, eventually leading the race after an opportunistic Virtual Safety Car pit stop.
Leclerc was ultimately overtaken by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who won the Grand Prix. Despite missing out on victory, Leclerc expressed encouragement regarding Ferrari’s recent performance improvements.
The Ferrari SF-26, known internally as Project 678, has secured two Grand Prix victories this season, with Hamilton winning in Barcelona and Leclerc in Great Britain. The car has also achieved nine podium finishes.
The 2026 season marks a new regulatory cycle for Formula 1, introducing movable front aerodynamics and an increased role for hybrid energy in the power unit. Ferrari’s SF-26 features a return to gloss paint and a clean design approach.
Hamilton’s difficult weekend began with a heavy crash during the final practice session on Saturday, necessitating extensive repair work by the Ferrari mechanics before qualifying.
Kimi Antonelli’s victory at Spa extended his championship lead over George Russell to 45 points, while Leclerc’s second-place finish narrowed his gap to Russell in the standings.
Despite the setbacks, Hamilton expressed gratitude for the points secured and affirmed his commitment to working with Ferrari for more consistent weekends in the latter half of the season.
