Lewis Hamilton admitted his 12th‑place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix was a direct result of the ploughing incident that occurred during FP3 on Saturday.
Crash in FP3
Late in the final practice session, Hamilton carried excess speed through Turn 13, skidded onto the gravel, and clipped the barrier with his rear‑right wheel. The impact left a notable puncture in the rear of the SF‑26.
Repair & Balance
Ferrari’s mechanics managed to patch the front and rear suspension, but the car’s handling was noticeably altered. Hamilton estimated the change cost him one to three tenths of a second each lap, which weakened his qualification pace.
Penalty and Race Impact
During the race’s early exchange, Hamilton collided with George Russell, earning a five‑second time penalty. He described the series of events as a cascaded outcome of the earlier damage, which moved him from a position he believed he could contest.
Pit‑lane Incident
After the start, Hamilton struck a Ferrari mechanic as the team gantry glowed green for the first hard‑tyre stint. The contact left the front‑wing angle unchanged, hampering his launch into the subsequent lap.
Team Outlook
Despite the setbacks, Hamilton praised the Meteor group’s strategic decisions and the continuous refinement of the vehicle. “We are improving, and the pace could win us the race,” he said. “The crew is moving the car in the right direction.”
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