Lewis Hamilton's weekend at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps was certainly one of two distinct halves. Riddled with difficulties from the start, the Ferrari driver described it as "definitely a weekend to forget". However, a determined drive in the main race salvaged valuable points and offered a glimmer of hope.

The challenges began early, with Hamilton struggling in qualifying. He uncharacteristically spun in Sprint Qualifying, relegating him to 18th on the grid for Saturday's Sprint. Further compounding his woes, he failed to progress beyond Q1 in the main qualifying session after a lap time deletion due to track limits at Raidillon. Starting from the pit lane after a power unit change and set-up adjustments further highlighted the extent of the issues.

Hamilton revealed that a change in his engineering team added to the complications he faced. The team brought an upgraded rear suspension to their car, and new brake characteristics also influenced Hamilton's performance. He admitted that he struggled to adapt to the new brakes, particularly in FP1 and the Sprint Qualifying.

Despite the setbacks, Hamilton's race day performance was a testament to his skill and determination. Following a delayed start due to heavy rain and an 80-minute red flag, he began a charge through the field. Displaying remarkable overtaking prowess in the wet conditions, Hamilton gained multiple positions in the opening laps. He passed five drivers—Lance Stroll, Carlos Sainz, Franco Colapinto, Nico Hulkenberg, and Pierre Gasly—in quick succession.

The Ferrari driver was the first to gamble on slick tires as the track started to dry. This early pit stop proved to be a masterstroke, allowing him to leapfrog several competitors once they pitted. Hamilton ultimately climbed eleven places from his starting position, finishing the race in seventh place. The strong recovery earned him the "Driver of the Day" award, voted by fans.

Reflecting on his race, Hamilton expressed satisfaction with salvaging points after a challenging weekend. "Sorry about this weekend guys, at least we got a few points," he said on the team radio. "I'll work harder to come back stronger. Great job with the strategy and pit stop". He also acknowledged the team's hard work and strategic decisions that contributed to his recovery. Despite the troubles, Hamilton was happy that the team made a positive step in the right direction with the car's setup during the race. He felt more confident as the race progressed and he was catching up to the cars in front.