Lewis Hamilton to race in Belgian GP qualifying after practice crash

Lewis Hamilton will participate in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix after surviving a heavy accident during the final practice session at Spa-Francorchamps. Despite substantial damage to his Ferrari, the team has confirmed the car will be ready for the upcoming session.

The incident occurred in the closing moments of FP3 when Hamilton lost control of his vehicle on the exit of Turn 13. He drifted wide through the gravel, striking the tyre barrier with the rear-right of his car. The force of the impact caused significant damage to the floor, suspension, and rear wing, forcing him to abandon the car on track. I have destroyed the car, mate, Hamilton told his team over the radio, according to reporting by Dorsetecho. Observers noted the accident was a near carbon-copy of the crash suffered by Alpine driver Pierre Gasly at the same corner during the previous day's practice.

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While the Ferrari garage now faces a tight turnaround to complete repairs before qualifying, the damage was not considered terminal. The team is currently assessing the state of the gearbox, though it was noted that a replacement would not necessarily result in a grid penalty if a previously allocated unit remains available.

Practice Results and Technical Challenges

The session was ultimately topped by Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli set the pace with a time of 1:45.990, maintaining his position at the head of the field despite encountering traffic and an aborted flying lap caused by a gear selection error. McLaren’s Lando Norris, who faces a 10-place grid penalty for power unit components, finished second, while Max Verstappen secured third for Red Bull.

The session was marked by several technical difficulties across the grid. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, who is also serving a grid penalty, experienced a power loss and stalled his car at the exit of the pit lane, requiring assistance from marshals. Nothing is ready, everything is too cold, Hadjar reported, citing a lack of grip. Meanwhile, Mercedes driver George Russell finished fourth, showing signs of progress after struggling with tyre preparation earlier in the weekend.

The current standing of the top ten in FP3 is as follows:

Controversy Under Caution

In addition to the repair efforts, the final minutes of the session were marred by a heated exchange involving Max Verstappen. Following the deployment of double yellow flags for Hamilton's crash, Verstappen complained over the radio about the driving of Carlos Sainz, who appeared to approach the Red Bull at speed in the caution zone. What the f***? My god! It's, like double yellows and this car, it like, almost crashes in the back of me. Unbelievable, Verstappen said, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Both drivers have been summoned to see the stewards to address the incident.

What to Watch Next

The focus now shifts to the qualifying session, which serves as the primary test for Ferrari’s mechanical team. Key storylines to follow include:

• Ferrari’s Readiness: Whether Hamilton’s car can be fully restored to competitive form following the extensive repairs to the rear suspension and bodywork.
• Stewarding Decisions: The outcome of the investigation regarding Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen, which could impact the starting order for Sunday's main event.
• Penalty Impacts: With Lando Norris and Isack Hadjar already set for grid drops, qualifying positions will be crucial for them to mitigate the loss of track position.
• Mercedes Dominance: Kimi Antonelli remains the favourite for pole position, though the narrow margins between the top six drivers suggest a tight battle for the front rows.

Qualifying is scheduled for 15:00 local time.