The Old Lion Roars in the Ardennes
If you ever needed proof that Formula 1 is not a sport for the faint-hearted, nor a playground for the complacent, look no further than the sodden forests of Spa-Francorchamps on July 27, 2025. On a day when the heavens opened and the script was supposed to be written for the young and the bold, it was the old lion—Lewis Hamilton—who stole the show, earning the Driver of the Day award with a charge that was as much about memory as it was about mastery.
Hamilton, now in Ferrari red and, let’s be honest, still waiting for that elusive first podium with the Scuderia, started 18th after a qualifying weekend that could best be described as character building. By the chequered flag, he was seventh, having carved through the field with the kind of wet-weather bravado that once made Ayrton Senna a legend and Michael Schumacher a myth. The fans, ever the romantics, voted with their hearts and their memories. And for one glorious, rain-soaked afternoon, Hamilton reminded us all why we fell in love with this sport in the first place.
“That’s How My Life Started in Racing”
The story of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix is, on paper, about Oscar Piastri’s clinical victory and Lando Norris’s faltering title bid. But the emotional core of the day belonged to Hamilton. After a weekend that saw him languishing at the back—thanks to two first-round qualifying exits and a new power unit—he summoned the spirit of his karting days.
As Hamilton himself put it:
That’s how my life started in racing. We had not such a great go-kart and started at the back, so it was reminiscent of that.
Lewis Hamilton, post-race interview with Sky Sports F1
The race began behind the safety car, delayed by over an hour due to torrential rain. When the green flag finally waved, Hamilton wasted no time. In the wettest conditions, he overtook five drivers in as many laps—Stroll, Sainz, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, and Gasly—before being the first to gamble on slicks as the track dried. The move paid off handsomely, vaulting him up the order as others hesitated.
Spa: Where Legends Are Forged in the Rain
Spa-Francorchamps has always been a crucible for the greats. The circuit’s 7 kilometers of undulating tarmac, unpredictable weather, and the ghosts of champions past have a way of separating the brave from the merely competent. Hamilton’s drive this year joins a pantheon of legendary Spa comebacks:
- Michael Schumacher’s 1995 win from 16th, holding off Damon Hill on slicks in the wet.
- Kimi Räikkönen’s 2004 victory from 10th.
- Ayrton Senna’s relentless charges through the field in the late ‘80s.
And now, Hamilton’s 2025 charge from 18th to 7th, in a Ferrari that, let’s be honest, still looks allergic to the top step of the podium.
As Nico Rosberg, never one to lavish praise lightly, observed:
He made up six positions from 13th to seventh, that’s awesome – by calling it himself. Super job!
Nico Rosberg, Sky Sports F1
The Anatomy of a Comeback: Strategy, Skill, and a Dash of Madness
What makes a great comeback at Spa? It’s not just about overtaking; it’s about timing, tire calls, and the willingness to risk everything when others are content to survive. Hamilton’s decision to pit for slicks at the end of lap 11 was vintage Lewis: bold, instinctive, and just a little bit mad.
The move echoed Schumacher’s 1995 gamble and Senna’s wet-weather wizardry. It’s no coincidence that the greatest Spa drives often come in the rain. The circuit’s length and elevation changes mean that grip and visibility can change from corner to corner, lap to lap. In such chaos, only the truly great thrive.
Hamilton’s charge was not just about speed; it was about reading the race, trusting his instincts, and, crucially, trusting his team. As he told his Ferrari crew after the race:
Sorry about this weekend guys, at least we got a few points. I’ll work harder to come back stronger. Great job with the strategy and pit stop.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari team radio
The Numbers Behind the Narrative
Let’s not forget the cold, hard facts. Here’s how the top ten finished at Spa in 2025:
| Position | Driver | Team | Grid | Notable Moments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 2 | Overtook Norris at La Source, led all laps |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1 | Lost lead at start, pressured Piastri |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 4 | Podium in upgraded Ferrari |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 3 | Couldn’t match McLaren pace |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | 5 | Solid, unspectacular |
| 6 | Alex Albon | Williams | 9 | Impressive in tricky conditions |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 18 | Driver of the Day, 11 places gained |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | RB | 12 | Quietly effective |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Haas | 14 | Points in rookie season |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 11 | Hung on for final point |
Hamilton’s 11-place gain was the largest of any driver in the top ten. In a race where overtaking was at a premium and the spray made visibility a luxury, that’s no small feat.
The Romance of the Rainmaster
There’s a reason fans voted Hamilton Driver of the Day. Formula 1, for all its technological wizardry and corporate polish, is still a sport that thrives on narrative. The sight of a seven-time world champion, now 40, charging through the field in the wet, evoked memories of Senna at Donington, Schumacher at Spa, and even Hamilton himself at Silverstone in 2008.
It’s not just about nostalgia. It’s about the enduring appeal of the comeback, the underdog, the refusal to accept that the best days are behind you. Hamilton’s drive was a reminder that, in Formula 1, greatness is not just measured in wins and titles, but in moments of audacity and heart.
A Brief History of Spa’s Wet Wonders
For those who think Spa’s 2025 drama was a one-off, a quick glance at the history books will set you straight. The Belgian Grand Prix has a habit of turning the form book upside down when the rain falls:
- 1998: Damon Hill wins for Jordan in a race of attrition, after a 13-car pile-up and Schumacher’s infamous collision with Coulthard.
- 1966: Jack Brabham survives a monsoon to win, with only seven cars finishing.
- 2008: Hamilton and Räikkönen’s duel in the rain, with Hamilton penalized post-race.
- 2021: The race that wasn’t—a handful of laps behind the safety car, half points awarded, and George Russell’s first podium.
Hamilton’s 2025 drive now joins this illustrious list—not for victory, but for the sheer audacity of the charge.
The Ferrari Factor: Progress or Mirage?
Let’s not ignore the elephant in the garage. Ferrari brought a long-awaited rear suspension upgrade to Spa, and while Leclerc managed a podium, Hamilton’s weekend was, in his own words, “one to forget.” Yet, his race pace in the wet and his comfort with the car after the changes suggest that, perhaps, the Scuderia is finally turning a corner.
Hamilton himself was philosophical:
I think I know the car a lot better now with all the changes we made, so I felt a lot more comfortable today.
Lewis Hamilton, post-race interview
Is this the start of a Ferrari renaissance, or just another false dawn? Only time—and perhaps the Hungarian Grand Prix—will tell.
Waste a Bit More Time
If you’re still hungry for more Spa drama, or just want to relive the chaos, here are some links to keep you entertained:
- F1 news LIVE: Lewis Hamilton disagrees with Ferrari boss over … (The Independent)
- Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari driver ‘loved’ charge back to points in Belgian GP after qualifying nightmares (Sky Sports)
And for those who prefer their drama in moving pictures, don’t miss the race highlights and analysis on YouTube:
