During the Sprint Qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps, Lewis Hamilton experienced a rare rear-wheel lockup that ended his lap in a spin at the Bus Stop chicane, highlighting troubling issues with the Ferrari SF-25. F1 analyst Anthony Davidson pointed to potential gearbox problems that may have caused Hamilton’s incident, drawing attention to mechanical faults rather than driver error.
Ferrari’s weekend at Spa is critical as the team tests a new suspension upgrade, but initial running in the free practice sessions showed minimal improvement. Hamilton’s lockup, resulting in a spin into the runoff area, left many puzzled, but Davidson suggested the root cause could lie within the car’s drivetrain, not the driver‘s performance.
Davidson noted a distinctive sound from Hamilton’s car during the lockup, saying:
“You hear that clunking, that’s backlash in the gearbox. So I don’t blame the driver for that moment, something’s going on there in the downshift phase of that Ferrari. So I give Lewis Benefit the doubt with that one at least anyway,” —Anthony Davidson, F1 Analyst
With this issue possibly affecting Hamilton’s car, Ferrari will likely need to investigate the gearbox before the race to prevent further complications. Conversely, Charles Leclerc reported no difficulties and secured a strong P4 start for the upcoming Sprint.
Hamilton Reflects on a Challenging Sprint Qualifying Session
Expectations had been higher for Hamilton and Ferrari in the Sprint Qualifying, but his rear-wheel lockup has severely hampered his chances of making it into the points, which are awarded to the top eight finishers. Speaking after the session, Hamilton appeared frustrated as he admitted this was the first time he had locked up the rear wheels this late in his Formula 1 career.
“I spun, I spun,” —Lewis Hamilton
When asked about the lockup on the rear wheels, Hamilton confirmed:
“Mhhm. First time I think in my career. Not great, not great..not really a lot to say.” —Lewis Hamilton
Despite starting from P18 for the Sprint, Hamilton still has the main qualifying session the next day to improve his position. However, given Ferrari’s subdued performance across practice and qualifying sessions, significant gains seem unlikely.
Hamilton also mentioned that the car’s handling had not noticeably changed following Ferrari’s upgrade during testing in Mugello but expressed cautious optimism about further development as the season progresses.
Ferrari’s Position in the Constructors’ Title Race Under Pressure
Ferrari currently holds second place in the Constructors’ Championship, narrowly ahead of Mercedes, their closest competitors this season. The car’s persistent issues at Spa and earlier tracks are raising concern as the team tries to maintain its advantage against Mercedes.
Hamilton’s unusual lockup sheds light on underlying mechanical challenges within the SF-25, emphasizing the urgency for Ferrari to resolve these before the race weekend advances further. The outcome of the Sprint and main qualifying will play a crucial role in setting up Ferrari’s race strategy and their hope to sustain momentum in the championship fight.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?
A. Race car driver Lewis Hamilton has openly expressed his passion for veganism. He also invests in plant-based businesses.
