De la Rosa observes 'indications of diminished confidence' in Hamilton.

      "With the new suspension, it feels like we have a different car."

      Lewis Hamilton’s challenging inaugural season with Ferrari hit a new low at Spa, where he found himself eliminated in Q1 twice and acknowledged that he "really needs to reflect on himself." The seven-time world champion spun out during sprint qualifying and subsequently had his fastest lap in the main qualifying session nullified due to track limits – a significant setback at a track where he has traditionally performed well. "One car performs, and mine does not,” Hamilton stated to Sky Italia. "I don’t take this lightly. I feel really sorry for the team and for everyone at the factory. It’s unacceptable. I’m striving to improve. It’s devastating for the team. Everyone is putting in so much effort and bringing impressive upgrades here." Ferrari's team principal, Frederic Vasseur, dismissed claims that there is a concerning pace deficit, but recognized Hamilton's lack of confidence. "It was a challenging weekend to get everything set up and feel comfortable in the car," he mentioned. "We couldn’t conduct long runs in the only practice session." "Hamilton just needs to stay calm and put everything together. The pace is there; you could see it in the intermediate sectors, both yesterday and today. I think Hamilton is just currently lacking confidence,” the Frenchman added. The emphasis is on Ferrari’s new rear suspension, part of a larger update that initially included a new floor, which many believe better aligns with Charles Leclerc’s driving style than Hamilton’s. "With the new suspension, it feels like we have a different car," Vasseur conceded. "Even if it poses some challenges initially, it will ultimately benefit the season." In the other car, Leclerc was more comfortable and qualified well. "I’m very pleased for Charles," Vasseur stated. "He delivered an excellent lap. We are still working to make advancements with this new package." Leclerc, however, is not entirely convinced that the upgrade will bridge the gap. "Yes, it’s an upgrade, and it’s a step in the right direction, but we’re still talking about very slight differences over an entire lap,” he told Canal Plus. "Compared to McLaren, I think we are probably on average three or four tenths behind. I don’t believe we’ll find those three or four tenths in this upgrade." Ralf Schumacher, a former F1 driver and Sky Deutschland analyst, posits that the new setup simply doesn’t cater to Hamilton's style. "My view is that this car isn’t suited to him. It’s more in line with Charles Leclerc’s style. Leclerc is more adaptable; he’s younger. Lewis requires a certain level of consistency. He doesn’t seem to favor the new rear end as much." Pedro de la Rosa, speaking on DAZN, concurs that Hamilton may be losing his edge. "There are indications that he’s losing confidence," said the Aston Martin ambassador, who has worked closely with the seven-time world champion. "It’s tough when things aren’t going well. For me, the key is to maintain confidence."