Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying: Hamilton’s Bitter Q1 Exit
Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing exit during Q1 of the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying has sparked turmoil for the seven-time champion, who branded his performance “unacceptable.” The incident occurred when Hamilton’s final lap was disqualified due to exceeding track limits at the challenging Raidillon corner, causing him to drop from a comfortable seventh position to elimination.
Reflecting on his performance, Hamilton acknowledged the pressure of the situation: “It’s incredibly painful to be eliminated in Q1. It’s turning out to be a pretty bad weekend so far.” Despite making changes to his setup, he admitted that the car’s handling did not meet expectations, resulting in another early exit—his second this weekend.
Hamilton expressed regret to the Mercedes team, underscoring the effort invested in recent preparations, including a film day and testing. He stated, “I’ve got to look internally and apologize to the team because it’s unacceptable to be out in Q1. It’s a very, very poor performance.”
Given Ferrari’s recent performance enhancements, including the introduction of a new rear suspension tested at Mugello, Hamilton expressed apprehension about the competition. He noted, “It’s a tough place to recover from 16th,” signaling that the weekend was one to forget, particularly as Mercedes turns attention toward the 2026 regulations, suggesting limited upgrades for the remainder of the season. “I think that’s probably it for the rest of the year, and the focus now is on next year’s car,” he added.
In summary, Hamilton’s qualifying performance raises significant questions as he and the team grapple with a challenging race weekend ahead.
