Lewis Hamilton aims for a better performance in the battle for victory in Belgium

Pulse Sports Team 11:26 - 13 July 2026

Lewis Hamilton is aiming for his first victory at Spa since 2024, which was also his last win for Mercedes, albeit following the disqualification of his teammate George Russell. The seven-time world champion has instructed himself to do a "better job" at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix after missing out on a chance to fight for the win at Silverstone.

Ferrari has emerged as Mercedes' main rival in the first nine rounds of the 2026 season, and Hamilton is confident that the SF-26 car can continue its upward trajectory at Spa. The Scuderia sits second in the Constructors' Championship with 255 points, 78 behind Mercedes, while Hamilton is third in the drivers' standings with 147 points.

Charles Leclerc's victory and Hamilton's podium at Silverstone marked Ferrari's second win in the last three races—a testament to their growing momentum in the title fight. However, the Spa circuit presents a completely different challenge.

The 7.004 km track in the Ardennes is one of the longest and fastest on the calendar, with cars exceeding 330 km/h on the Kemmel Straight. This long stretch from La Source, through Eau Rouge, to Les Combes is the main overtaking zone, making top speed and aerodynamic efficiency critical for both lap time and race pace.

This season, Mercedes has often ranked among the strongest cars in terms of straight-line speed, and Ferrari will need to rely on its latest efficiency upgrades to perform well on a track that punishes any power deficit.

Asked if Ferrari could be competitive at the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton replied: "Spa. I mean, we've been making really great progress so far. What gives me confidence is that before Silverstone, the simulator suggested we should start with a very different setup, but my engineers and I decided to stick with the direction we usually go. Charles started the way the simulator recommended, but ultimately, my philosophy and the direction I took proved to be the right ones, and he switched to them. It's good to see that the direction I've been pushing for is paying off and that we just need to keep making changes and pushing. We need to keep bringing upgrades. There will be long straights at Spa, but ultimately, I need to do a better job than I did at Silverstone," he added.

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