Heading into the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, Ferrari unveiled a new rear suspension upgrade for their SF‑25, hopeful it would transform the car’s sensitivity to ride height and tyre degradation. Yet when asked how it felt on his first laps at Mugello, Lewis Hamilton was refreshingly candid:
“We didn’t test… it was a photo‑shoot day basically… it was not a test.” When asked about the feel, his response was blunt: “The same as before. The same as the week before.”
Hamilton’s Take: Hope, Not Hype
Hamilton clarified that any actual testing would begin on Friday’s practice sessions at Spa—not during the filming day. He emphasized:
“On the simulator, there’s no difference… across different circuits perhaps there’ll be benefits.” But added a sober note: “Very, very difficult… highly unlikely we’re going to fully optimise it during this weekend.”
He said he appreciated seeing the upgrade arrive and recognized a “big push back at the factory,” but stressed that extracting real performance from it would take time and multiple races.
Why Hamilton Was So Direct
1. Ground-Level Assessment
His refusal to sugarcoat reflects realism rather than reservations toward Ferrari. Mugello wasn’t a test, and Hamilton wanted to dampen expectations prudently.
2. Development Timing Constraints
A Sprint weekend gives teams just one practice hour before Sprint Qualifying. Hamilton warned this greatly limits learning and setup evolution—especially under the threat of rain. Friday’s single-session format halves data gathering time, potentially compromising effective tuning this weekend.
3. Push for Consistency
Hamilton’s performance-first mentality aligns with his broader efforts to transform Ferrari’s development culture. He’s been in multiple meetings with team leadership—delivering documents and pushing for structural and technical improvements. He’s made it clear: he “refuses” to arrive at Ferrari and not win a championship.
What the Upgrade Was Supposed to Do
Ferrari publicly stated that the rear suspension geometry revision came with re-optimised wishbone fairings and winglet cascades—designed to make the SF‑25 less sensitive at varying ride heights and assist tyre management, theoretically improving aero efficiency across circuits. Spa’s lower downforce setup was a key target.
But Hamilton’s quick verdict suggests these theoretical gains remain unverified—at least for now.
The Bigger Picture: Ferrari’s Development Approach
Hamilton contrasts Ferrari’s infrequent “big chunk” upgrades with the incremental upgrades seen regularly at Red Bull and Mercedes—incremental releases every weekend rather than waiting for huge factory packages. He’s thankful development is happening, but noted pace has lagged expectations since Bahrain and Austria.
What It Means in Practice & Beyond Spa
| Area | Hamilton’s View | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade Effectiveness | Minimal impact on first feel | True gains need more iteration |
| Sprint Weekend Structure | Limited setup time | Pressure to learn quickly, rain hazard |
| Development Strategy | Shift underway, but slow pace | Ferrari needs quicker delivery |
| Team Expectations | High—but realistic | Hamilton aims to bring change personally |
Even if Spa doesn’t reveal immediate turnaround, Hamilton sees this as part of the greater overhaul needed to challenge for future titles.
A Season of Change: Push, Patience & Persistence
Hamilton leads Ferrari through a season of restructuring—pushing across engineering, strategy, and leadership lines. With limited results across 12 races, his impatience to see Ferrari rise is palpable. He’s summarized it this way:
“If you look at the team over the last 20 years… I refuse for that to be the case with me. So I’m going the extra mile.”
Despite recent criticism from Italian media and social commentary comparing his struggles unfavorably to previous Ferrari legends, Hamilton remains combative. He calls on everyone from development leads to marketing to refocus around performance.
Final Word
When Lewis Hamilton says a major upgrade “feels the same as before,” it’s not negativity—it’s realism. The new suspension marks a shift, but Hamilton understands that substantial improvements take time, especially in F1’s sprint weekend calendar.
Spa-Francorchamps may not deliver instant answers, but it provides the stage where Hamilton hopes Ferrari begins to evolve. With his involvement intensifying both on-track and behind the scenes, this weekend represents another critical step in his mission—and Ferrari’s quest—to once again become championship contenders.
