Monday, December 29, 2025

Lewis Hamilton praises Venus Williams’ iconic twirl ahead of Spa race upgrades and crucial F1 weekend

On a memorable evening in Washington, Venus Williams marked a remarkable comeback by winning a singles match at the Citi Open, an achievement that caught the attention of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton. As Hamilton prepares for a crucial race weekend at Spa, he shared a clip of Williams’ victory, expressing his admiration with a simple, yet powerful response. This moment highlights the deep influence the Williams sisters have had on Hamilton’s own journey in sports.

Despite not having a ranking or recent singles appearances since March, Venus defied expectations by securing her 819th career win, defeating No. 35-ranked Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4. Stearns, notably, was born the year Venus won her first Grand Slam match. After the win, Venus celebrated at center court with an elegant twirl, a gesture that ignited cheers from the crowd. Earlier in the week, she competed in doubles alongside American rising star Hailey Baptiste but exited in the quarterfinals. Venus will next face Magdalena Frech in the second round of the singles tournament.

Lewis Hamilton prepares for Belgian Grand Prix with key Ferrari upgrades

While Venus Williams celebrated on the tennis court, Lewis Hamilton was intensifying his focus on the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, the 13th round of an often challenging season with Ferrari. Hamilton, still seeking his first podium this year, faces ongoing difficulties, especially in medium-speed corners where the SF-25 has shown notable weaknesses.

Lewis Hamilton
Image of: Lewis Hamilton

In response, Ferrari has introduced a new upgrade package aimed at enhancing traction and braking stability. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur explained the significance of these developments:

“The Belgian Grand Prix is the first leg of the final double-header before the summer break. We have worked hard at the factory to bring an additional upgrade package for the SF-25. Therefore, a point of focus this weekend will be to make sure we maximize its potential from the get-go.”

The Spa weekend also features the third Sprint event of the season, reducing practice time to only one hour. Hamilton has demonstrated strong sprint capability with podium finishes in China and Miami, raising hopes that Belgium might deliver a pivotal breakthrough in his campaign.

Hamilton’s dedicated preparation and hopes for Spa success

Hamilton has been meticulous in his physical preparation for the intense weekend, sharing his rigorous workout routine on Instagram:

“45m bike, 1 hour in gym, 6 mile run. Dead.”

Currently sixth in the championship with 103 points and trailing the leaders significantly, Hamilton remains optimistic about Spa. The track is favorable for him, having claimed five victories there, including a win earlier this year in 2024. The venue’s demanding layout suits his skills, and with Ferrari’s upgrades, the British driver hopes to turn his fortunes around.

As Venus Williams demonstrated her enduring talent at age 44 before thousands of fans, Lewis Hamilton, at 40, is inspired to translate that same resilience into his own sport this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?

A. Race car driver Lewis Hamilton openly supports veganism. In addition to this, he invests in businesses focused on plant-based products.

Q. Why did Lewis Hamilton quit?

A. Hamilton allegedly switched from Mercedes to Ferrari because Ferrari proposed a longer contract with higher pay. Additionally, his performance had declined, with no wins recorded in 2022 or 2023, prompting him to seek a fresh start with another team.

Q. Is Lewis Hamilton a vegan?

A. Lewis Hamilton believes he showed critics they were wrong by thriving on a vegan diet. He went vegan in 2017, even though his doctors advised against it. Since then, he won four championships and said his energy levels got better. Hamilton is one of several professional athletes succeeding on a plant-based diet.

Q. Why does Lewis Hamilton not have a wife?

A. He talked about the sacrifices he made to keep his career going, like choosing not to have a family. Hamilton said he is determined and without a wife and children. His main focus remains on achieving success and winning.