Lewis Hamilton endured a dramatic setback ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix when he crashed his Ferrari during the closing moments of the final Formula 1 practice session at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday, immediately apologizing to his team over the radio after the impact.
“I’ve destroyed the car, mate.
I’m sorry,” Hamilton said after losing control of his Ferrari through the fast Fagnes chicane and slamming into the barriers, damaging the car’s right-rear suspension and rear wing.
The incident came just minutes before the checkered flag in Free Practice 3, leaving Ferrari mechanics with a narrow window to complete extensive repairs before qualifying.
Despite the crash, Hamilton still finished the session fifth fastest, underlining the pace Ferrari had shown before the accident.
The crash is a significant blow for Hamilton, who arrived in Belgium carrying momentum after a podium finish at the British Grand Prix and sitting third in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship.
Ferrari had also shown encouraging signs throughout the weekend after steadily closing the gap to Mercedes over recent races, making the timing of the accident particularly costly.
Television replays showed Hamilton running wide on corner exit at the high-speed Fagnes section before the rear of the Ferrari snapped away, sending the car into the tire barriers.
The impact brought out double yellow flags, forcing nearby drivers to slow, including Max Verstappen, while Carlos Sainz narrowly avoided running into the slowing Red Bull.
The incident echoed Pierre Gasly’s near-identical crash at the same corner during Friday’s running, highlighting how unforgiving the Spa circuit remained despite favorable weather conditions.
Ferrari’s mechanics immediately began replacing damaged components in an effort to have Hamilton’s car ready for qualifying.
The repairs ultimately proved successful, allowing the Briton to return to the track later in the day.
Hamilton recovered impressively to qualify sixth, while teammate Charles Leclerc qualified fifth.
Both drivers subsequently gained one grid position after Lando Norris’ 10-place grid penalty, improving Ferrari’s prospects for Sunday’s race.
Up front, Mercedes continued its impressive form as championship leader Kimi Antonelli topped final practice before converting that speed into pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Verstappen qualified second, while Ferrari remained firmly in contention despite Hamilton’s earlier scare.
Hamilton had acknowledged before Saturday that Ferrari was still “lacking a little bit” compared with its main rivals but expressed confidence the team could continue making progress throughout the weekend.
His costly mistake temporarily threatened to derail those plans, though Ferrari’s rapid repair job ensured the seven-time world champion remained in the fight heading into race day.
