BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton Disappointed with Mercedes Car After Finishing..... at D... Grand Prix....

Lewis Hamilton Disappointed with Mercedes Car After Finishing Eighth at Dutch Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, expressed his disappointment with the performance of his Mercedes car after finishing in eighth place at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday. The 39-year-old had entered the race with high hopes, coming off a victory at the Belgian Grand Prix before the summer break. However, the Zandvoort circuit proved to be a challenging venue for both Hamilton and his teammate, George Russell, as they struggled to keep up with the leading pack.

Hamilton’s frustrations were evident in his post-race comments to Sky Sports, where he admitted that while he felt more positive about his driving on Sunday, the car’s performance left much to be desired. “I was much happier today,” Hamilton said. “I was moving forwards, progressing, moving in the right direction, just too far back unfortunately.” He lamented his starting position, noting that if he had qualified where Russell did, in fourth place, he likely would have been in contention for a podium finish. “If I qualified where George was (in P4) then I think I would have finished at least there, if not further ahead,” he added.

Hamilton’s analysis of the race highlighted his disappointment with the car’s pace compared to the Belgian Grand Prix. “The car was not great compared to the last race, when we had a lot more pace,” he explained. “We were closer to others today.” Despite making some progress during the race, Hamilton ultimately couldn’t catch the likes of Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc, who finished ahead of him.

Hamilton’s comments were echoed by his teammate George Russell, who also faced difficulties during the race. Russell, who finished seventh, admitted that he was puzzled by the car’s lack of performance. “I don’t really understand what has happened, in all honesty,” Russell said. “We were slow on all three tyres and went backwards.” He described the car as feeling like it had “no grip, like I was on ice,” and acknowledged that something had gone wrong with the setup, though he wasn’t sure what it was. “We definitely got something wrong somewhere, but I am scratching my head,” he added.

Mercedes’ struggles at Zandvoort were compounded by the fact that Russell had qualified fourth, with the team appearing to be in a strong position heading into the race. However, as Russell noted, their pace inexplicably disappeared during the race, leaving both drivers fighting to stay in the top ten.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also weighed in on the team’s performance, admitting that the car had caused problems for both drivers throughout the weekend. Wolff acknowledged that the team’s setup may have been a contributing factor to their struggles but emphasized the need to analyze the data to understand where things went wrong.

The Dutch Grand Prix result marks another setback in what has been a challenging season for Mercedes. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, the team has struggled to consistently compete with the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari. For Hamilton, who is still chasing an elusive eighth world title, the inconsistency of the car has been a source of frustration.

Looking ahead, both Hamilton and Russell will be hoping for a better performance at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza. With the championship battle intensifying, Mercedes will need to address the issues with their car if they hope to challenge for wins and podiums in the remaining races of the season.

As the season progresses, it remains to be seen whether Mercedes can find the consistency needed to compete at the highest level. For now, though, Hamilton’s disappointment at Zandvoort serves as a reminder of the challenges that still lie ahead for the team.