Lewis Hamilton Faces Unexpected Challenges at Belgian GP Practice with Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that the Mercedes F1 vehicle experienced a notable change in performance during Belgian GP practice, stating, "It's clear that the car has been performing excellently in recent races, but today, it just seemed entirely different."

Lewis Hamilton disclosed that during Friday's practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix, his Mercedes F1 vehicle experienced a totally distinct sensation.

In the second practice session at Spa-Francorchamps, Hamilton's team could only secure the 10th quickest time, trailing McLaren's Lando Norris by more than 1.2 seconds.

George Russell, the teammate from Mercedes, managed a marginally improved performance, recording the day's sixth fastest time.

Heading into the weekend, Mercedes felt optimistic that their vehicle would perform well at Spa.

The circuit design generally benefits aerodynamic efficiency and speed on the straights – and considering their results at Silverstone – Mercedes anticipated being competitive.

Up to this point, the journey hasn't been easy for the athlete who has clinched the world champion title seven times.

"Indeed. I'm at a loss for words," Hamilton expressed. "Clearly, the previous few races had a positive vibe, but today, it just felt entirely off.

"We put in effort on the project. Initially, the outcome wasn't impressive. However, after implementing adjustments in our subsequent meeting, we saw improvements."

"The beginning was promising, but as soon as I switched to the soft tire, I found myself unable to enhance my performance due to numerous balance problems. Although there was some improvement in this session, the rest of the competitors significantly outperformed me. Being 1.2 seconds slower is far from ideal."

The meteorological prediction for Belgium is unpredictable, with anticipated rainfall during Saturday's qualifying rounds, while the race on Sunday is forecasted to remain dry.

Hamilton is of the opinion that Mercedes stands a better chance of being competitive should it rain.

He secured the second position in the sprint qualifying round in China under rainy conditions, and his sole victory of the season came under variable weather conditions.

"He further stated that if conditions remain arid, we currently find ourselves far from an ideal situation."

"Certainly, we can implement some alterations overnight. In my opinion, should there be rainfall, it indeed broadens our possibilities somewhat."

"We're aiming to improve our performance. I believe the car performs better under wet conditions than it does in dry ones."

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