Hamilton frustrated with Ferrari over slow team orders at Zandvoort
Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration with Ferrari for delaying a position swap that let him fall behind teammate Charles Leclerc, costing him valuable seconds. He compared the situation to his former team Mercedes, where such swaps happen instantly.
During the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Lewis Hamilton was left dissatisfied with how slowly Ferrari made decisions after he ended up behind teammate Charles Leclerc. The team hesitated over a position swap, and the delay cost the British driver valuable seconds in the race.
Over team radio during the delay, Hamilton sarcastically remarked that it was a great way to waste time.
Comparison with Mercedes
Speaking to F1 TV after the race, Hamilton contrasted the situation with his experience at his former team, Mercedes, where management immediately has George Russell yield to Kimi Antonelli when needed. He stressed that he wants to win and that it is difficult watching how quickly such swaps are executed at Mercedes compared to Ferrari's approach. Hamilton said he would discuss the matter with the team once he returned.
According to the driver, the delay behind Leclerc cost him the chance to fight Russell for a podium position by the end of the race, although a later virtual safety car phase briefly offered hope of a better result.
Engine power deficit
Hamilton acknowledged that the main obstacle to Ferrari's competitiveness is an engine power deficit compared to Mercedes and McLaren, costing the team around 0.4 seconds per lap on the straights. Although Ferrari brought new upgrades to Zandvoort that helped close the gap, the driver noted the power deficit has persisted for half the season and must be addressed for the team to genuinely compete on any track.
