Ferrari Strategy Inspires Hamilton's 7th Place Finish
Hamilton's recovery was a testament to his driving skills and the team's strategy, and he will look to build on this performance in the upcoming races. With the team's support and his own determination, Hamilton is confident that he can overcome the challenges and achieve better results.
Lewis Hamilton finished the Belgian Grand Prix in 7th place, despite starting from the pit lane after making power unit and set-up changes, and was voted driver of the day for his impressive recovery.
Hamilton made up 11 places, including several passes at the final chicane and into Les Combes, and was the first driver to switch to medium rubber, which proved inspired. He struggled with braking throughout the weekend, but the team made a positive step in the right direction during the race. Hamilton's early gamble paid off, allowing him to gain 6 more places and run 7th behind Alex Albon.
Hamilton's message to the team was "I'll work harder to come back stronger" and acknowledged that he still has much to learn about the car. Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc finished 3rd, capping a strong weekend, while the team opened a 28-point lead over Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship. Hamilton attributed his struggles to a combination of factors, including Ferrari's upgraded rear suspension, new brake characteristics, and an engineering reshuffle.
Despite the challenges, Hamilton feels upbeat about how things can move forward from here, and is confident that he can have better results in the future. He expressed gratitude to the team and called on his go-karting days to make his way through the field, and acknowledged that he still has much to learn about the car.