Brundle: Hamilton 'Relieved' by Fourth After 'Torrid' Belgian GP

Martin Brundle believes Lewis Hamilton will have felt an unusual sense of relief after salvaging fourth place at the Belgian Grand Prix despite a weekend plagued by setbacks. The seven-time world champion faced drama in practice, an opening-lap collision with George Russell, and a pit stop incident that resulted in a team fine, yet still delivered strong points for Ferrari in a race that could have easily ended in disaster.

Why it matters:

For a driver accustomed to winning, scraping together a fourth-place finish after multiple setbacks speaks volumes about both Hamilton's resilience and the chaotic nature of his weekend. The incidents also highlight the intense pressure at Ferrari, where even minor on-track errors can spiral into costly penalties and unwanted scrutiny. Brundle noted that Hamilton was likely relieved to finish fourth, a sentiment he has rarely felt throughout his career.

The details:

• Hamilton qualified sixth, trailing Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, after struggling to find optimal balance during Saturday's session at Spa.
• On the opening lap, he made contact with Mercedes driver George Russell, earning a five-second penalty from the stewards, mitigated down from the standard 10 seconds.
• While serving the penalty during his pit stop, Hamilton struck a mechanic, who thankfully escaped uninjured. The incident drew a hefty fine for Ferrari rather than an additional race penalty.
• Brundle maintained his view that the Russell clash was a racing incident, suggesting the penalty likely cost Hamilton a genuine shot at a podium finish.

Between the lines:

That Hamilton likely felt relieved by fourth rather than disappointed reveals just how difficult his Spa weekend truly was. It also hints at lingering frustration with stewarding decisions that Ferrari clearly felt were harsh, potentially masking a race pace that merited more than fourth.