’Sceptical’ Ferrari insiders were left very confused by Lewis Hamilton comment during the Belgian Grand Prix

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Ferrari delivered their most anticipated update package of the season to the Belgian Grand Prix with mixed results.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have helped guide the Scuderia to second in the constructors’ championship this season.

However, they’ve done so without a Grand Prix victory and appear unable to bridge the mammoth gap McLaren have created in the standings.

Ferrari would have known that they needed to take a significant step forward to challenge Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris between now and the end of the season.

There was hope that Ferrari’s new rear suspension might be the magic bullet that miraculously makes the SF-25 a race-winning car.

Hamilton also received an update to his brakes that might have explained his bizarre spin at the end of Sprint qualifying.

Ultimately, Leclerc finishing on the podium ahead of Max Verstappen and Hamilton pulling off a tactical masterclass to make up 11 positions to finish seventh will be seen in a positive light at Maranello.

However, one comment made by the seven-time world champion has left some Ferrari staff more confused than excited at this stage.

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Ferrari ‘insiders’ left ‘sceptical’ by Lewis Hamilton’s pre-race Belgian Grand Prix comments

A report from the Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport has shared more details about how the Belgian Grand Prix was viewed by Ferrari.

Ferrari are shifting focus to their 2026 car, and while the new rear suspension was seen as an essential update for this season, it could help the team with their decision-making for the upcoming regulation changes.

Hamilton said he didn’t want his time at Ferrari to end up like Sebastian Vettel, or other champions like Fernando Alonso or Kimi Raikkonen, who could add to their trophy collection while driving for the Scuderia.

He admitted that he had submitted documents to his bosses about where Ferrari can improve and what they need to do next season to challenge for both championships.

The report states that Hamilton’s comments were greeted by Ferrari fans and ‘insiders’ with a mix of ‘curiosity and scepticism’.

Ferrari are notorious for running their Formula 1 team in a certain way, and while they will appreciate Hamilton’s feedback, particularly because he’s been so successful throughout his career, he might have trouble changing the team’s ways.

Hamilton believes that people within Ferrari have the technical talent to build a championship-winning car, but haven’t been allowed to express themselves fully.

That level of creativity is essential in Formula 1, with each team possessing an extremely impressive array of engineers and designers to fall back on.

People within Ferrari would have been encouraged by Hamilton’s drive through the pack on Sunday, highlighting the fact that if they give him the right car, he can still deliver.

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

Lewis Hamilton was ‘thwarted’ by lift and coast issue at the Belgian Grand Prix

Hamilton stopped making progress in the race as soon as he pitted for medium tyres and caught up to Alex Albon.

The Williams driver had a superb weekend, but should have been no match for Hamilton and his Ferrari, especially given the form he had shown in the first 10 laps.

However, Hamilton was ‘thwarted’ by having to lift and coast for much of the race, preventing him from closing in on Albon.

It’s a problem that he and Leclerc have both had to deal with all season, ever since the seven-time world champion’s disqualification for excessive plank wear at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The team’s new suspension hasn’t fixed any particular issue, but both drivers were complimentary about the update by the time the race weekend was over.