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Heavy Hamilton crash at Spa leaves Ferrari facing major repair job
Lewis Hamilton sparked panic in the Ferrari garage at Spa-Francorchamps after a heavy crash, putting the team under intense pressure ahead of qualifying.
By Nadia van Leeuwen - 2026-07-18T12:55:45.000Z - 2 min read
The Formula 1 weekend at Spa-Francorchamps has taken an unexpected and worrying turn for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton crashed his car in the crucial buildup to qualifying, an incident that triggered an emergency meeting and frantic activity inside the Italian team's pit box. Focus abruptly shifted from optimizing performance to the urgent necessity of damage limitation.
This setback has thrust the Maranello engineers into an intense race against time. With qualifying rapidly approaching, there is barely enough time left to get Hamilton's car fully ready. Repairs are being carried out all hands on deck, placing a significant strain on team personnel and spare parts stock.
The extent of the damage appears serious enough that chatter suggests "nothing left to save" in terms of quick, superficial fixes. This points toward potentially complex repair work extending far beyond a routine check. It inevitably means mechanics will have to work substantial overtime to get the car competitive again.
Uncertainty looms large over the car's exact condition and whether a representative qualifying session is even achievable. Every component that requires replacement or repair can directly impact setup and handling—a critical factor for delivering a fast, stable lap around a demanding track like Spa.
Pressure on Ferrari is visibly mounting as the team weighs how best to tackle this unexpected hurdle. There is a real risk of having to compromise on setup, or that Hamilton might be unable to participate in qualifying at full potential. Either scenario could significantly alter starting grid positions for the main race.
Crashing so close to a decisive session is a severe blow, especially with crucial championship points at stake. The incident threatens to seriously undermine Ferrari's ambitions for the weekend, requiring a resourceful approach to minimize fallout. The battle against the clock and the elements is officially underway.