1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill views Ferrari’s performance at the Belgian Grand Prix as a positive sign following the introduction of their latest upgrades. Ferrari debuted a new rear suspension update for the race at Spa-Francorchamps, which helped Charles Leclerc secure his fifth podium by finishing ahead of Max Verstappen in third place.
Leclerc’s strong finish came as a surprise, especially after he managed to overcome delays affecting the leading trio during the sprint race. On BBC’s Checkered Flag Podcast, Hill remarked that the Ferrari upgrade had a noticeable impact. “I think it’s encouraging,” Hill said. “They made some modifications, particularly on the rear suspension, which seemed to have improved the car. Ferrari has clearly made some progress. That third place in qualifying is likely a boost for the team, but the car remains a challenging one to drive.”
He also praised Leclerc’s performance, saying, “He did an excellent job with Ferrari and managed to get ahead of Max Verstappen.”
Meanwhile, it was a tougher weekend for Lewis Hamilton, who struggled on the opposite side of the Ferrari garage. The seven-time world champion didn’t make it past Q1 in either qualifying session. However, by switching to intermediate tires at the right moment, Hamilton finished seventh in the sprint race. Williams driver Alex Albon managed to surpass Hamilton’s seventh-place advance, but Hamilton made an impressive recovery starting from the pit lane.
Hill added, “If Lewis had been able to get into his rhythm, he could have done something with that car. It was disappointing not to see him progress beyond Q1, so we never really got to see his full pace. Still, Charles going ahead of Red Bull—especially with Max Verstappen driving—was significant.”
Fan Take: This update could mark the start of a tougher challenge to Red Bull’s dominance, injecting more excitement into the championship battle. For fans, seeing Ferrari close the gap with meaningful upgrades means more unpredictable and thrilling races ahead.
