Lewis Hamilton offered his perspective on Scuderia Ferrari’s performance during the Free Practice sessions at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, highlighting areas where the Italian team still needs to improve. His comments came after a mixed day for Ferrari, contrasting with the strong pace shown by other leading teams.
In Free Practice 1, Hamilton secured second place, narrowly behind Max Verstappen, with Charles Leclerc completing the top three. However, Ferrari’s performance dipped in Free Practice 2, where Hamilton finished fourth and Leclerc did not make it into the top ten following a lap deletion. Hamilton pointed out that Ferrari was “lacking a little bit,” particularly in the middle sector of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, suggesting that the team would need to work on adjustments overnight to enhance their pace for qualifying.
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur also weighed in on Friday’s sessions, cautioning against reading too much into the timesheets. He emphasized that factors such as fuel loads and varying strategies mean that the Friday results do not fully reflect the competitive order. Vasseur stressed that Ferrari’s focus remains on internal progress and expects a clearer indication of their competitiveness during qualifying.
Other teams such as Red Bull Racing and McLaren also demonstrated strong pace throughout the practice sessions, with Verstappen leading the times in FP1. Hamilton’s own performance showed consistency, but the sessions underlined the ongoing challenge Ferrari faces in closing the gap to the front runners. The middle sector deficit mentioned by Hamilton was a key factor in Ferrari’s relative drop in pace during the second session.
Hamilton remained optimistic about Ferrari’s ability to improve, noting that the team could find solutions to enhance their car’s balance and speed before qualifying. His assessment reflects a cautious but hopeful outlook on Ferrari’s potential to better their performance as the weekend progresses.
Vasseur’s remarks provide important context, reminding that practice sessions often involve varying approaches and that the true competitive picture will become clearer once qualifying unfolds. This measured view aligns with the typical ebb and flow of a race weekend, where teams gather data and refine their setups ahead of the decisive sessions.
The observations from Friday’s sessions highlight the fine margins that continue to shape the competition in the Formula 1® championship. Ferrari’s focus on internal development and the ongoing battle for pace among the leading teams remain central themes as the Belgian Grand Prix weekend advances.