Lewis Hamilton in awkward exchange with Sky reporter at Belgian GP

Lewis Hamilton refused to fully answer a question from Sky Sports reporter Craig Slater in an awkward conversation ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. The Mercedes star dodged Slater’s question after insisting that it was too “personal”.

The exchange appeared to take place in a Mercedes briefing after this afternoon’s press conference. Slater asked: “Getting the pole again obviously meant a lot. You said afterwards that maybe you’d questioned whether your own form had fallen off a little bit, in the last year or so.

“I just wonder if at any point in this period have you ever felt you had maybe lost something that you wouldn’t get back or where you always confident you could get back to your best?” Hamilton paused and appeared to frown before calling out Slater on his remark.

The seven-time champion replied: “I don’t know – I think that’s a bit of a personal question and I probably don’t really want to go too much into that.”

However, Hamilton eventually decided to open up on some of his struggles since the start of the new regulations in 2022. He added: “But I think last year-and-a-bit has been difficult with the car that we have had. Particularly last year, not finding myself gelling with the car that we had built.

“Therefore, just not being able to live at the potential that I know I am able to compete in. When you are hindered with the balance, that is similar for so many drivers. The goal is to steer the direction of the development so you can eventually show your potential, and what you are capable of.”

Mercedes struggled at the start of the season with the German marque dropping behind Aston Martin in the pecking order.

However, the Silver Arrows have turned things around since introducing new upgrades at the Monaco Grand Prix. Hamilton has since picked up three podium finishes and secured a stunning pole last time out in Hungary.

Earlier in the afternoon, Hamilton admitted Mercedes’ target for the second half of the campaign was to finish second in the Constructors’ standings. But they could face some opposition with McLaren’s resurgence putting the British team above the former world champions at Silverstone and Budapest.

“I think, through really hard work, we’re starting to get there. You are starting to see that. From Monaco onwards, I have had much more consistent performances. The pole position that we had in the last race felt very reminiscent of the olden days for me. That gives me hope that we’re going in the right direction. Hopefully, it’s the same for our team.”