Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari’s handling of team orders during the Dutch Grand Prix may have denied him a chance to finish second after he lost valuable time behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton crossed the line fourth at Zandvoort, just behind Mercedes driver George Russell, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli secured second place after Mercedes instructed Russell to allow his team-mate through. Lando Norris won the race for McLaren.
Ferrari finished with Hamilton and Leclerc running closely together in fourth and fifth, but Hamilton felt the outcome could have been stronger had the team reacted more quickly during a key phase of the race.
Ferrari delay leaves Hamilton frustrated
Hamilton caught Leclerc during the middle part of the Grand Prix while running on fresher tyres and wanted Ferrari to clear his path so he could attack the two Mercedes cars ahead.
Ferrari initially planned to bring Leclerc into the pits, but the Monegasque driver remained on track for another lap before eventually stopping. Hamilton was forced to stay behind him during that period, costing several seconds.
The seven-time world champion later closed the gap to Russell as the race entered its final stages, but his opportunity to challenge for third was reduced further when a late virtual safety car interrupted his progress.
Hamilton believes the earlier delay behind Leclerc could ultimately have made the difference between fourth place and a possible podium, with second place also potentially within reach depending on how the closing laps developed.
The result left Hamilton 59 points behind championship leader Antonelli as Ferrari continues trying to close the performance gap to Mercedes and McLaren.
Mercedes execution draws comparison
Hamilton highlighted the contrast between Ferrari’s decision-making and Mercedes’ response when Antonelli caught Russell.
Mercedes quickly instructed Russell to move aside, allowing Antonelli to continue without losing significant time while protecting his position from the Ferraris behind. The move helped the championship leader secure second place.
Hamilton indicated that Ferrari needs to become more decisive in similar situations if it wants to compete consistently for championships. He remains confident in the team’s potential but believes operational details and race execution are becoming increasingly important as the margins between the leading teams narrow.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur attributed the situation to confusion over strategy rather than a deliberate decision to hold Hamilton behind Leclerc.
Ferrari had been considering keeping Hamilton on track until the finish and did not want to reveal its strategy too early to rival teams. Leclerc was expected to stop, but his stint was extended by one lap, creating the delay that frustrated Hamilton.
Vasseur said the situation would be reviewed internally so both drivers and the pit wall had a clearer understanding of how the strategy unfolded.
Hamilton calls for more Ferrari engine performance
Hamilton also urged Ferrari to accelerate improvements to its power unit after estimating that the team was losing roughly four-tenths of a second to Mercedes on the straights at Zandvoort.
Ferrari introduced an upgrade package for the Dutch Grand Prix, which Hamilton viewed as an encouraging step toward the front of the field. However, he believes the team’s power deficit remains a major obstacle after affecting Ferrari throughout the first half of the season.
With Hamilton attempting to reduce his 59-point championship deficit, stronger engine performance and sharper strategic execution could prove crucial if Ferrari is to turn its improving pace into victories and sustain a serious title challenge.