Hamilton Aims for Ferrari Podium After Drive in Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium — Lewis Hamilton expressed optimism for improved performance as he targets his first podium with Ferrari at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, following a resilient comeback drive in the Belgian GP.
Hamilton, starting from the pit lane after two early exits in both the Sprint and qualifying sessions, showcased remarkable skill in wet conditions. His strategic pit stop propelled him to a seventh-place finish, where he demonstrated enhanced performance with Ferrari’s newly introduced rear suspension.
“Everyone in the team worked so hard,” Hamilton stated. “We obviously had these upgrades, and then when you come and put a performance like I had in these past two days, it’s tough because that’s not what the team deserves.”
Despite the challenging start to the weekend, Hamilton managed to outscore Mercedes in points and acknowledged Charles Leclerc’s strong performance, hinting at improvements in the car’s competitiveness.
“I’m still going to work hard next week to try and get my first podium,” he remarked. “Having learned more about the car today, I feel confident going forward.”
Hamilton credited both the wet weather setup and recent technical enhancements, including rear brake modifications, for his progress, mentioning that his early struggles were exacerbated by a lack of familiarity with the new components.
“This was my first time using it, and the spin caught me out because we didn’t have settings,” he explained. “We made changes overnight, and the car was so much better to drive. I had a lot of fun making my way through.”
A recent change in engineers added another layer of adjustment for Hamilton. He noted that while transitioning roles mid-season is challenging, the familiarity with the new engineer, who had previously worked with him, aided in their quick adaptation.
As Hamilton prepares for Hungary, he expressed confidence in his team’s ability to refine the car further, stating, “I don’t see why we wouldn’t have better results going forward.”
