Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton expressed strong frustration with Ferrari’s performance and lack of agility in decision-making during the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, which took place on August 23, 2026. After finishing the race in fourth position, the British driver publicly demanded that the Italian team adopt a more efficient and assertive stance, along the lines of Mercedes, his former team.

Hamilton expresses dissatisfaction with fourth place in the Dutch GP

Hamilton did not hide his dissatisfaction after the race in the Netherlands. He finished the race only in fourth place, below his expectations, and attributed part of the result to the way Ferrari conducted its strategy during the stage. The driver’s complaints were mainly directed at his pit stop choices and the delay in receiving authorization to overtake his teammate, Charles Leclerc.

Direct criticism of the Italian team’s slow decisions

Throughout the GP, Hamilton was seen in tense dialogues with his engineer, Carlo Santi. He openly questioned whether he was being used as a “guinea pig” in some strategies, in reference to Ferrari’s late decisions. The Brit highlighted the importance of clear and early communication about race tactics, something he perceived as lacking in the red team.

In an interview with Sky Sports Germany, Hamilton detailed his anguish: “We didn’t talk about it [strategy decisions] during the race. We didn’t talk before either. It’s frustrating. I was definitely very frustrated.” He emphasized that his pace was strong but was hampered by the situation. “I was on a different strategy, a different tire. And he was clearly at the end of a stint, suffering too much on the medium tire. And that made me lose a lot of seconds behind him. The objective was to get the maximum points.”

Comparison with Mercedes’ strategic efficiency

The scenario experienced by Hamilton at Ferrari directly contrasts with the example he cited at Mercedes. In the same race, the German team acted promptly by instructing George Russell to give up position to Andrea Kimi Antonelli at the end of the race, demonstrating quick and efficient strategic coordination between the drivers. This agility in decision-making is a point that Hamilton aims to replicate in his new team.

The objective of taking Ferrari to the title and the need for change

Despite the criticism, Hamilton praised the team’s work on the car and in the stops, but reinforced the need for a change of mentality. “We have to work better. The team should have made the decision and changed our positions. The people have done a fantastic job with the car, the stops were great,” he said. For the seven-time champion, it is essential that Ferrari adopt a more proactive stance if it wants to return to the top of Formula 1.

The driver reiterated that his main objective is to transform Ferrari into a championship team again. “My objective here is to try to lead this team to the title. Therefore, it will be a calm conversation. But it needs to be firm. We are here to win. Do you want to win? If you want to win, these are the things we need to do”, he said, making reference to the change of positions carried out by Mercedes.

Challenges on the track and the quest to reduce the disadvantage

Hamilton also pointed out a technical challenge, explaining that the Ferrari is losing around four tenths per lap on the straights compared to the Mercedes engines. This aerodynamic and power disadvantage makes the fight for positions even more difficult. He promised that the team will work to close this gap and improve overall performance. “We will certainly discuss this and work better from now on”, concluded the pilot.