Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration with his Ferrari team’s strategy during the Dutch Grand Prix, suggesting that different tactical decisions could have led to a podium finish. Hamilton, who finished fourth, compared Ferrari’s approach unfavorably to that of his former team, Mercedes, particularly regarding team orders.
During the race, Hamilton found himself behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc, who was on older medium tyres while Hamilton was on harder, potentially faster, rubber. Hamilton felt he was losing crucial time, which prompted him to voice his concerns over the team radio. His exasperation was evident when he radioed, “Great way of wasting time, good job,” after Leclerc eventually pitted.
Strategy Contrasts and Frustrations
Hamilton highlighted the contrast with Mercedes’ handling of a similar situation involving their drivers, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Mercedes swiftly instructed Russell to allow Antonelli to pass in the final stages of the race, as Antonelli was on faster tyres. Hamilton observed, “They get the call, and it’s done, they execute straight away.”
The delay behind Leclerc, estimated to be around 1.5-2 seconds over two laps, remained a point of contention for Hamilton after the race. He believed this time loss was the difference between securing third and fourth place. “Today was definitely frustrating for me,” Hamilton stated, adding that to win championships, every point is vital.
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur did not initially believe the delay behind Leclerc was a critical factor in Hamilton’s race, as the plan was to keep Hamilton out until the end. However, a subsequent virtual safety car offered Hamilton a ‘discounted’ pit stop, which altered the race’s dynamic.
Leclerc, for his part, was also not entirely pleased with the strategy. He questioned the timing of his second pit stop, believing it counteracted the team’s goal of building a tyre advantage over Mercedes. Leclerc had hoped to extend his stint to create a larger tyre delta to Russell, but was called into the pits earlier than he anticipated.
Radio communications between Leclerc and his race engineer, Bryan Bozzi, revealed some hesitation from Leclerc regarding the pit call. Despite being asked to pit, Leclerc completed another lap before complying, leading to further delays. Leclerc acknowledged that both he and Hamilton might experience frustration at different times, stating, “I think sometimes I’ll be frustrated, sometimes Lewis will be frustrated, but it’s the way it is.”
Championship Implications
Hamilton emphasised his ambition to win and lead Ferrari to a championship, stressing the importance of collecting every possible point. He noted that Antonelli finished second in the race and has extended his lead over Russell and Hamilton in the standings. Hamilton is currently 59 points behind Antonelli.
Despite his frustrations, Hamilton praised the performance of the Ferrari car and acknowledged the intense competition at the top. He expressed confidence in the team’s efforts to improve their power unit to better compete with Mercedes, who he noted were gaining significant time on the straights. Hamilton concluded that he would discuss the race strategy with the team privately.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff defended his team’s decision to issue team orders, explaining that it was a straightforward call given their established rules against drivers fighting each other when on different strategies and with competitors close behind. Russell also accepted the decision, acknowledging that Antonelli was faster on new tyres and would have overtaken him regardless.
Hamilton’s comments underscore the competitive nature of the Formula One season and the critical role of strategic decisions in securing championship points. The British driver’s goal remains to lead his team to the championship, requiring meticulous execution in every race.
The Dutch Grand Prix was won by McLaren’s Lando Norris, with Antonelli finishing second and Russell third.
Source: theguardian.com