BREAKING NEWS: Lewis Hamilton voiced his frustration with…after a… Read More
Lewis Hamilton voiced his frustration with teammate George Russell after a… Read More
Lewis Hamilton voiced his frustration with teammate George Russell after a difficult Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, suggesting that his own performance could have been stronger had he not encountered qualifying issues. The seven-time world champion believes he had the pace to finish inside the top five, potentially securing fourth place, but was hindered by his starting position and race strategy.
Reflecting on the weekend, Hamilton said, “If I just qualified like I should’ve and if I didn’t have a problem in qualifying, then yeah, I would have finished higher. I think I had the pace today to definitely finish in the top five. If I started fourth, for example, then I would’ve finished at least fourth.”
Hamilton’s confidence stemmed from his car’s performance on race day, particularly after opting for the soft Pirelli tires, a less popular choice among the field. He noted that the soft compound felt better than the medium tire during practice, and he believed his car had the potential to challenge the front runners. “We planned to do a two-stop and started on the soft tires, which felt really good. The soft tire was better than the medium in practice. The hard tire was decent too, but it was tough to know whether to push or not,” he added.
Despite his strong belief in his strategy, Hamilton admitted that a small mistake during the race may have cost him a better finish. “I had a bit of a lock-up, which meant I had to stick to my strategy. Maybe if I had gone for a one-stop, I could have managed the tires better and finished one place ahead.”
This season, Mercedes has shown a marked improvement, with both Hamilton and Russell frequently reaching the podium. Russell claimed a win at the Austrian Grand Prix, while Hamilton secured victories at the British and Belgian Grands Prix. However, the Dutch GP posed a significant challenge for the team, with both drivers struggling to capitalize on their race pace.
Qualifying proved to be a major setback for Hamilton. He was eliminated in Q2 and then received a three-place grid penalty for impeding another driver, forcing him to start the race from 14th place. Although he managed to climb up the order during the race, he ultimately finished eighth, just behind Russell, who started from fourth but ended the race in seventh.
Hamilton’s disappointment was not solely due to his final position but also his belief that his car had the potential for a better result. His strategy of using soft tires initially seemed promising, but his race was compromised by the earlier issues in qualifying. Despite his best efforts to recover, Hamilton couldn’t overcome the difficulties of the weekend.
Mercedes remains focused on improving their performance as they continue to chase championship leaders Red Bull. Although the Dutch GP was a tough race, the team has shown throughout the season that they have the ability to challenge at the front. With upcoming races on the calendar, Hamilton and Russell will be eager to bounce back and continue their fight for podium finishes and victories.
Hamilton’s reflections on the Dutch GP highlight both the progress Mercedes has made this season and the challenges that still lie ahead as they aim to close the gap to Red Bull in the championship battle.
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