Lewis Hamilton’s session-ending spin during the sprint qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix caused a significant delay to the event. This incident happened during his final flying lap in SQ1 at Spa-Francorchamps, where Hamilton lost control at the last corner while poised to surpass 15th-placed Alex Albon’s time.
The spin scattered a large amount of gravel across the track, forcing marshals to pause the session to clear it. Another earlier gravel excursion from Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli created similar issues on a different part of the circuit, leading to an overall delay of about five minutes before SQ2 could begin.
Ongoing Challenges for Hamilton in 2025 Season
Hamilton’s spin added to an already difficult first season with Ferrari. Apart from securing a sprint race pole and race victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, he has yet to reach the podium in 2025. His best finish so far remains fourth place in a Grand Prix.
Despite Ferrari bringing upgrades to Spa-Francorchamps, Hamilton was expected to qualify comfortably within the top 10. However, the spin abruptly ended that hope and relegated him to start 18th in the sprint race on Saturday.
Veteran commentator Martin Brundle suggested the possibility of a mechanical fault during Hamilton’s spin, stating,
“Nobody will be more surprised than Lewis. It’s almost like the engine sort of stalled out, and every time he pulled another shift it’s just locked the rear axle.”
Anthony Davidson from Sky Sports F1 backed this view, adding,
“I hear a lot of locking in the rear axle on the car. That clunking is backlash in the gearbox. I don’t blame the driver for that moment.”
Davidson further commented,
“Something is going on there in the downshift phase of that Ferrari. I give Lewis the benefit of the doubt for that one.”
Impact on Antonelli and Road Ahead for Hamilton and Ferrari
Kimi Antonelli will begin the race at the back of the grid, having failed to post a lap time faster than any other driver in the session. Both Antonelli and Hamilton will likely prioritize gathering data during Saturday’s sprint race to improve performance for the main race qualifying and Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.
The timing of these issues early in the weekend could prove beneficial, allowing teams to address problems before the more critical sessions take place. For Hamilton, recovering from this setback in sprint qualifying will be essential to improve his chances in Sunday’s race.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?
A. Race car driver Lewis Hamilton is very open about his passion for veganism. He is also involved in investing in plant-based products.