Hamilton knew "that the first and last sectors would be our biggest challenge" due to Ferrari's PU deficit

Lewis Hamilton thanked Ferrari's mechanics after they rebuilt his SF-26 following his heavy crash in final practice, admitting the car never felt quite the same in qualifying despite securing sixth place on the grid for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Hamilton's preparations for qualifying suffered a major setback when he lost the rear of his Ferrari through Turn 13 during FP3. The seven-time world champion slid through the gravel before clipping the barrier, causing significant damage to the right-hand side of the car.

Ferrari's mechanics completed an impressive repair job in time for Qualifying, allowing Hamilton to take part in the session. However, the Briton felt the rebuilt car lacked the balance he had enjoyed before the accident.

"Firstly, a big thank you to the team for the incredible job they did getting the car back together after FP3," Hamilton said.

"I'm grateful as always for all their hard work. The car lacked some stability in qualifying, and we knew that the first and last sectors would be our biggest challenge, but we managed to extract the maximum from today's package. We're starting in a decent position tomorrow and I'll be giving everything I can to move us forward."

Speaking after Qualifying, Hamilton again praised Ferrari's mechanics for their efforts: "Massively grateful to the team. The guys were stretched to make sure they got the car ready," he said.

"The car was feeling the best it felt all weekend in FP3, then unfortunately I had to go and damage it. It wasn't the same car when I got back out; unfortunately not identical in terms of balance. But I got the best I could out of what I had."

Hamilton eventually qualified sixth, while team-mate Charles Leclerc secured a place on the second row after showing strong pace throughout Q3. Leclerc's final flying lap was compromised when he encountered a yellow flag caused by an incident in the pit lane, forcing him to lift and costing him valuable time.

Despite the difficult build-up, Hamilton remains optimistic that opportunities could arise during Sunday's race around the unpredictable Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

"Still optimistic for tomorrow," he said. "I think there's a chance, there's all sorts of chances tomorrow to try and see if we can get on the podium. That'd be awesome."