Hamilton on 2026 cars lacking straight-line speed at Spa
Lewis Hamilton says the 2026 cars are “not good on the straights” at Spa-Francorchamps after qualifying on the third row for the Belgian Grand Prix. Hamilton said: "In Q3 the car was feeling really good, and I did a bit of a long run and the car was feeling great. It is a slightly different, subtly different car set-up-wise, so I'm still hoping it's good as well. I mean it's just not good on the straights. Through the corners, the cars are great, it's just in the straight line that's not great."
Lewis Hamilton confused by lack of foresight on major F1 regulations flaw
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Hamilton on Ferrari pitstop incident in Belgian GP
Lewis Hamilton said his “heart really sank” when his Ferrari hit a mechanic during a pit stop at the Belgian Grand Prix, but he was relieved the crew member was unhurt after stewards fined the team €30,000. Hamilton said: "The green light went and so I went. You're looking over here [to the left at the lights] you're not looking over there so that's more probably on the team, ultimately. But when it happened, then I noticed him and I stopped and it just went through my mind in that moment was back when Kimi hit and broke a leg and my heart really sank for a second."
'My heart really sank' - Hamilton relieved mechanic unhurt after hit
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Hamilton on Russell clash at the Belgian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton says his opening-lap collision with George Russell at the Belgian Grand Prix was “a racing incident”, despite the Ferrari driver being given a five-second penalty after Russell retired from the race. Hamilton said: "Ultimately, sorry for George because that obviously ended his race, but I did think… I do agree that it was a racing incident. It's not like I went in aggressive and was misplaced or anything like that. I think it was just an unfortunate scenario, which happens in racing. Then I had damage as well, so I carried that through the race. It was a tough one."
Hamilton gives opinion on Russell clash in Belgian GP
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Mekies on Red Bull's step forward after Belgium
Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies said the team have made their car “stronger and stronger” and believes they can fight for podiums “pretty much at every circuit” after Max Verstappen finished third and Isack Hadjar climbed to sixth at the Belgian Grand Prix. Mekies said: "First, it is a very strong result for everyone back at [the factory in] Milton Keynes who has worked so hard to get the car stronger and stronger. We have made a step forward after Austria and it was a bit more of a difficult weekend in Silverstone, and here we have confirmed that we can fight for podiums pretty much at every circuit. The last bit to get is the most difficult, and Kimi had still a sizeable advantage."
Red Bull car getting 'stronger and stronger' – Mekies
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Piastri on Leclerc avoiding sanction for Belgian GP collision
Oscar Piastri said Charles Leclerc should at least have been shown a black-and-white flag after their lap-eight collision while battling for third at the Belgian Grand Prix, which stewards decided required no action. Piastri said: "From where I was at, I was on the white line and got squeezed. I don't really know where I was supposed to go, so the fact that was no... I'm not saying it needed to be a penalty necessarily, but at least a black-and-white flag or something like that, because if we think that that's fine… even just the incentive of knowing that you can leave everyone the absolute bare minimum space and get away with it, that's not the nicest place to be."
Charles Leclerc deserved black-and-white flag for collision, Oscar Piastri insists
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Revealed: George Russell f-bomb fumes at Mercedes over team radio
Vasseur on Hamilton's Belgian GP penalty
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur said Lewis Hamilton’s five-second penalty for his opening-lap collision with George Russell at the Belgian Grand Prix was “mega harsh”. Vasseur said: "I think it's mega harsh. If you have a look on the corner, Russell had enough space on the left-hand side, it's not that he was close to the wall. I think it's more a racing incident for me and this cost us a lot."
Ferrari criticises "mega harsh" Lewis Hamilton penalty in F1 Belgian GP
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Vasseur on Ferrari's stronger-than-expected Spa result
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the team were not expecting to be so competitive at Spa-Francorchamps after Charles Leclerc finished second in the Belgian Grand Prix and Lewis Hamilton took fourth. Vasseur said: "I think overall, it's a very strong result for the team. We were not expecting this kind of result at Silverstone and Spa due to the layout of the track. We did a good job with execution, good strategy, good pit stop. I think on the chassis side we are doing a strong job, we are bringing upgrades. It's paying off, small steps but small step by small step, we are catching up."
Vasseur reacts to Ferrari's Belgian GP performance
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Leclerc on making a step forward after Belgian GP podium
Charles Leclerc says he has made a step forward after finishing second at the Belgian Grand Prix for his second consecutive podium. Leclerc said: "I'm confident in saying that I made a step forward. Whether I'm at the level where I want to perform, not yet. There are still things in the car that I need to drive around. I cannot drive completely naturally, and that is slowing me down in some parts of the race. So, there are still things that I've got to work on in order to be better. But surely it was a step forward, and for that I'm happy."
Leclerc “confident I've made a step forward” after back-to-back podiums
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Verstappen on 2026 energy deployment making racing difficult
Max Verstappen said Formula 1’s 2026 energy-deployment can make racing “a jungle” after the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. Verstappen said: "Yeah, welcome to F1 2026, sometimes it can be a jungle."
Max Verstappen sums up F1 2026 frustration with six-word verdict
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Wolff on Mercedes power issue affecting Russell
Toto Wolff says all Mercedes-powered cars were down on straight-line power during the Belgian Grand Prix, and admitted it was a team mistake that badly affected George Russell. Wolff said: "We had an issue on all Mercedes engines that we lacked the power out on the straights. That bit him [Russell] badly and it goes one-hundred-percent on us. We're trying our best as a team. We have the most powerful power unit – we have a strong car that is capable of winning. Everybody gives their maximum to minimise their mistakes and still it happens – because we are humans at work."
Wolff says Russell was not alone in Mercedes power woes, was “team mistake”
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Wolff on Mercedes engine power issue at Belgian Grand Prix
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