Ferrari now planning to copy key Mercedes component to add to Lewis Hamilton’s car for the Belgian Grand Prix

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There might have been times this season when Lewis Hamilton would have been longingly looking over at the Mercedes garage.

Lewis Hamilton decided to part ways with Mercedes after 12 seasons to join Ferrari in time for the start of the 2025 F1 season.

The seven-time world champion announced his decision before the 2024 campaign even started, and while he wasn’t able to add one final title to his CV during his last year with the Silver Arrows, there were a few notable high points.

Hamilton winning at Silverstone and Spa were fitting parting gifts from Toto Wolff’s team, but so far, his start to life at Ferrari hasn’t quite gone to plan.

At the midway point in the 2025 campaign, Hamilton is sitting sixth in the drivers’ championship and is still waiting for his first podium finish, excluding Sprint Races.

Ferrari are planning on bringing updates to the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix, as while many teams are now fully focusing on 2026, Fred Vasseur still believes there is potential to unlock in the SF-25.

It now appears as if the Scuderia are taking inspiration from Hamilton’s old team, with one crucial upgrade arriving at Spa.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Ferrari following Mercedes’ rear suspension ‘concept’ with Belgian Grand Prix update

A report from Motorsport Italia has shared more details about the planned work Ferrari are doing behind the scenes in time for the start of the second half of the 2025 campaign.

They believe that the introduction of a new rear suspension onto Hamilton’s car should make it ‘easier’ to drive.

It’s been suggested that Ferrari will ‘follow the concept introduced by Mercedes at Imola’ with the design of their new suspension.

Ferrari are hoping that their new rear suspension will allow for ‘more rigid setups’, which should mean that the team can run the car closer to the ground.

Hamilton was disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix because of excessive plank wear from running the car too low.

The seven-time world champion loves running as close to the ground as possible, and it’s no surprise Ferrari are looking at his old team for inspiration, given that he guided their development path for over a decade.

There is a hope at Ferrari that the work they’re still doing on the 2025 car will translate to next year’s machine.

The story from Motorsport goes on to say that Ferrari’s suspension ‘solution’ isn’t as ‘advanced’ as what Mercedes have introduced this season.

The ‘less extreme’ Ferrari component can’t exactly mimic Mercedes’ suspension due to the way it needs to attach to the gearbox and the potential reliability issues that could be created.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Ferrari worried about Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc grid penalties this season

Ferrari currently sit second in the constructors’ championship, and the hope is that this update will help them cement that position in the standings.

It won’t be easy, as the Belgian Grand Prix is a Sprint Race event, meaning Hamilton and Leclerc will only have one hour of practice before Sprint qualifying to determine whether the suspension is working.

Hamilton has been unable to take part in Ferrari’s most recent private test at Mugello, as he used up his allowance before the season started.

However, Leclerc would have provided as much information as possible on whether the new suspension is going to work.

Both Ferrari drivers could start picking up grid penalties soon, as the team have concerns about the reliability of their power units.

This means potentially switching out more components than is allowed, and might explain why both Ferrari drivers are being told to lift and coast as much as they are.

There’s no point improving the rear suspension on Hamilton and Leclerc’s cars if they’re not able to push to the limits during races.