Hamilton wants to 'improve' after losing ground in title battle: 'To deliver the way I can'

After multiple setbacks at the Belgian Grand Prix, including receiving a five-second penalty for making contact with George Russell and an unsafe release that ended with Hamilton hitting a Ferrari mechanic, the Briton crossed the finish line in fourth place.

Charles Leclerc also finished in second place. Hamilton was encouraged by Ferrari's performance at a circuit where the team was, on paper, expected to struggle against its rivals.

He told GPblog, among others: "Yeah, it's just a showing that the car is moving in the right direction. It's just down to the team doing such a great job with bringing improvements every weekend."

Hamilton was also positive about the team's execution over the past weekends. "Yeah, definitely really encouraging. I think the team have been making great progress decisions with strategy, I think we've really elevated a lot across the board in how we operate on the weekend. And then today, as I said, I think we had the pace to win today. Given everything, to come away with points, it's great."

The British driver has won at the Hungaroring a record number of eight times.

Looking ahead, Hamilton also explained that he needs to do better as well. "I'm hoping we can be [competitive], firstly I need to come correct next week and make sure I deliver the way I know I can. Yeah, we have to come and fight for that."

After the conclusion of weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, Hamilton is second in the drivers' standings, but trails Kimi Antonelli by 45 points.

Hamilton expressed his relief after learning that the incident involving the Ferrari mechanic during the Belgian Grand Prix ended without any serious consequences.

"Oh, God, I'm just grateful that the mechanic didn't get hurt," Hamilton told GPblog, among others.

"Well, I mean, I'm looking at the lights and the car. I'm supposed to go when the light's dropping, and I went, and then I saw him to my right, and I stopped as soon as I could," Hamilton continued.

"Luckily, all I could think at the time was back when Kimi [Raikkonen] did a leg, and I was like, 'Oh.' That's what I thought initially, but he got up and moved," he concluded.