Dutch GP, Hamilton very nervous
Lewis Hamilton finished fourth in the Dutch GP: this is a result that naturally does not please the Ferrari driver, even less so when looking back at the course of the race.
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The seven-time world champion, starting from fifth position, had to come up with something different to hope for the podium: the joker was the one-stop strategy, made possible by excellent management of the soft tire in the first stint. The race plan was paying off, but when Hamilton found himself facing Charles Leclerc and George Russell (who were supposed to stop early for the second time) the Monegasque blocked number 44. From his perspective, rightly so, because the Ferrari pit wall did not issue any team orders in favor of Hamilton.
As a result, George Russell (who anticipated Leclerc’s stop) gained very precious seconds both on the Monegasque and on Hamilton. And when Sir Lewis crossed the finish line in fourth place also due to an unfortunate Virtual Safety Car at the end, the seven-time world champion did not want to hear about bad luck.
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Hamilton’s team radio
“Thanks Lewis, we were unlucky with Russell“, opened race engineer Carlo Santi.
“We were not unlucky, we lost time earlier and that cost us third place“, replied Hamilton.
Also in statements to journalists, Hamilton reiterated the point: Ferrari threw away a podium and still has a lot to learn from Mercedes about race management. Sir Lewis gave the example of Mercedes, quick to impose a team order on Russell in favor of Kimi Antonelli at the end of the GP. It must be said that an unnecessary fight between the two Brackley drivers actually favored Hamilton’s victory in Barcelona.
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