Despite Lewis Hamilton’s recent praise for his upgraded W15, the seven-time world champion remains uncertain about his chances of victory at Spa. On paper, the Mercedes should perform well on the Belgian asphalt, but according to Hamilton, the car feels ‘completely different’ than he’s used to. The British driver must rely on weather conditions if he wants to compete with the top contenders.
Leading up to the Belgian Grand Prix, Mercedes was optimistic. After all, the design of the Circuit Spa-Francorchamps demands aerodynamic efficiency and high top speed – qualities that the German cars demonstrated at Silverstone. However, after the opening day at Spa, Hamilton was left unsatisfied. The first free practice sessions were far from comfortable. In FP1 and FP2, he clocked the fifth and tenth fastest times, respectively.
Hamilton’s Struggles in Belgium
“I really don’t know what to say,” Hamilton told the media in Belgium. “The car felt great in the previous races, but today everything felt completely different. The first free practice wasn’t great, so we made some changes in the second session. It started off well, but when I went out on the softs, there were a lot of balance issues. Of course, it’s not great to be immediately 1.2 seconds behind.”
Hamilton’s Prospects for Spa
Hamilton does not rate his chances for Spa very highly. “If it stays dry, we’re not in a great position at the moment,” he continued. “We can make some changes overnight, but really we should be hoping for rain – then everything will be a bit more open. I think the car should be better in the rain than if it stays dry.” For now, little precipitation is predicted for the Grand Prix. However, the qualification is expected to be a wet affair.
Looking Forward
Hamilton’s struggles in Belgium and his concerns for the upcoming Spa race highlight the challenges he faces in the current season. With the weather playing a potential role in the outcome, it will be interesting to see how Hamilton and his team adapt to these conditions.
