Lewis Hamilton‘s spin during the sprint qualifying session at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend caused a significant delay. The incident occurred on Hamilton’s final flying lap in SQ1, preventing him from advancing further in the session as he lost control at the last corner.
Although Hamilton was initially faster than 15th-place driver Alex Albon, his spin scattered large amounts of gravel across the track. This forced marshals to pause the sprint qualifying to clear the debris before the next session could begin.
Track Conditions Worsened After Earlier Incidents
Earlier in the session, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli had also gone off track, sending gravel onto a different section of the circuit. Due to these two incidents, the second part of sprint qualifying (SQ2) was delayed by around five minutes as officials worked to clear both affected areas.
Ongoing Challenges for Hamilton This Season
Hamilton’s spin added to a difficult 2025 season with Ferrari, marking another major setback. Aside from winning both the sprint race pole and the main race at the Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton has yet to reach the podium this year, with his best race finish so far being fourth place.
Despite Ferrari introducing several upgrades at Spa-Francorchamps, Hamilton was on track for at least a top-10 starting position before the mistake. The spin now ensures he will start the sprint race in 18th place, making his weekend tougher.
Potential Mechanical Issues Behind the Spin
Former F1 driver and commentator Martin Brundle speculated that a technical problem may have caused Hamilton’s spin. He explained that it appeared the engine stalled, and subsequent gear shifts caused the rear axle to lock up unexpectedly.
“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.”
—Martin Brundle, F1 Commentator
Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson also pointed to gearbox issues during the downshift phase, emphasizing that the fault was likely not due to driver error.
“Something is going on there in the downshift phase of that Ferrari. I give Lewis the benefit of the doubt for that one.”
—Anthony Davidson, F1 Analyst
Starting Grid and Implications for Hamilton and Antonelli
Kimi Antonelli will start at the very back of the grid as well, having been unable to set a competitive time faster than any other driver during qualifying. Both drivers now face an uphill battle in Saturday’s sprint race.
The sprint will serve as an important opportunity for Hamilton and Antonelli to gather data and make improvements before the main qualifying session and the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday. Both teams will likely focus on resolving any outstanding issues before the primary race events.
Impact on Ferrari and Future Prospects
Hamilton’s spin highlights ongoing reliability and performance concerns for Ferrari this season, reinforcing the pressure on the team to develop their car further. Starting 18th significantly reduces Hamilton’s chances of scoring strong points early in the weekend, making his recovery on race day crucial.
How Hamilton and Ferrari respond to these setbacks will shape their competitiveness moving forward, especially as they contend with rivals like Red Bull and Mercedes amid a challenging season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?
A. F1 driver Lewis Hamilton openly supports veganism and has a passion for it. He also invests in businesses focused on plant-based products.
