Hamilton explains frustrated radio messages during Dutch Grand Prix
Hamilton’s Frustration During Dutch Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton expressed his frustrations over team radio during the Dutch Grand Prix, a race where he ultimately finished in fourth place. The seven-time World Champion voiced his displeasure after spending several laps behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc, in the middle phase of the race. Hamilton felt he possessed greater pace and was keen to optimise his race strategy against the Mercedes drivers.
By Lap 43 of the 72-lap event, Hamilton was closely following Leclerc’s car. Despite Hamilton’s perceived pace advantage, Leclerc appeared hesitant to allow his teammate to pass and also opted against an immediate pit stop. Leclerc eventually pitted one lap later, which freed Hamilton. However, the British driver made his feelings clear over the radio, sarcastically stating, “Great waste of time there, guys.”
Hamilton’s frustration continued later in the race when he questioned the team about pitting under a Virtual Safety Car phase. He asked, “Are you using me as a guinea pig?”, before the team instructed him to pit. He ultimately crossed the finish line in fourth, having pursued Mercedes’ George Russell for the final podium spot until the chequered flag.
Post-Race Reflections and Comparisons
Following the Grand Prix, Hamilton elaborated on his radio messages, linking them to his competitive drive. He emphasised his desire to win, stating, “I’m here to win.” He also drew a comparison to the situation at Mercedes, where their drivers, Russell and Kimi Antonelli, swapped positions during the closing stages of the race. Hamilton observed that Mercedes made the call and executed it immediately, allowing Antonelli to proceed with his race.
Hamilton noted that his situation was different, as he was on a distinct strategy. He indicated that these matters would be discussed privately with the team. He acknowledged that he “gave it absolutely everything” during the race and commended Ferrari for their car’s performance, highlighting the intense competition at the front of the field.
The British driver remarked on the close competition, describing it as “really, really hard battling.” He felt that while his qualifying performance could have been better, Mercedes was gaining a significant advantage on the straights, making it challenging to compensate elsewhere on the track. He expressed confidence in the team’s car and their efforts to improve the power unit to close the gap to competitors.
Hamilton believes that the delay in getting Leclerc out of his way could have potentially cost him a second-place finish. He finished fourth, while Mercedes secured second and third, with championship leader Antonelli as the runner-up after Russell was instructed to let him pass. Hamilton had been on fresher tyres when he approached Leclerc mid-race and requested to be allowed through to optimise his performance against the Mercedes cars.
After the team asked Leclerc to pit, the Monegasque driver initially resisted, remained out for an additional lap, and was then instructed to pit again. Hamilton later caught Russell in the final stages but ran out of time to overtake him, with his efforts further hampered by a late virtual safety car. The two Ferrari drivers finished in fourth and fifth places, closely behind Russell. McLaren’s Lando Norris secured the race victory.
Team Strategy and Future Improvements
Hamilton, who is behind championship leader Antonelli, described the race as “definitely frustrating.” He reiterated his belief that the team has the potential to win and that securing every point is crucial for championship contention. He pointed out that losing several seconds behind Leclerc ultimately could have impacted his final position. His objective is to lead the team to a championship, acknowledging that there is work to be done.
He contrasted Ferrari’s approach with that of Mercedes, noting that Mercedes executed their strategy directly to ensure Antonelli consolidated second place. Hamilton stated, “What’s clear is I’m looking at them and seeing Mercedes. They executed. They got the car, they are fighting for the championship and did it straight away.” He suggested that Ferrari’s approach was something that needed discussion.
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur addressed the situation, explaining that the team did not want to disclose Hamilton’s strategy to competitors by informing him that they expected him to go to the end of the race. Vasseur stated that the intention was to keep Hamilton on track to hold Antonelli behind him, which he believed would have been the correct decision. He acknowledged there was some confusion regarding Leclerc’s pit stop, as he was supposed to pit but extended for one lap. Vasseur expressed that he was not concerned and that the team would clarify the situation during a briefing.
Hamilton also urged Ferrari to expedite engine upgrades, expressing pride in the team for bringing an upgrade to the weekend. He noted that while they are getting closer to competitors, they have been at a power disadvantage for half the season. He stressed the importance of increasing power to compete for victories and close the gap, highlighting that Ferrari was losing approximately 0.4 seconds on the straights to Mercedes at Zandvoort.
Hamilton finished fourth in the Dutch Grand Prix.
Source: formula1.com
