Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is not concerned about Lewis Hamilton's frustrated radio messages during Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix. The seven-time former world champion just missed out on a podium finish in Zandvoort after finishing fourth.
Strategy dispute in Zandvoort
With a four-lap fresher tyre offset on Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton was lapping much quicker than the Monegasque on Lap 42. The 49-year-old pleaded with his team to let him through for what was then second place. Leclerc took his time though - much to the annoyance of Hamilton, who could not hide his frustration in radio messages.
The Brit sarcastically said: "Great way of wasting time guys, good job."
Team principal responds
The former Mercedes driver led the race but had yet to pit for fresher tyres. Eventual race winner Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli were in quick pursuit of Hamilton - leading him to question the team's strategy. He said: "Are you using me as a guinea pig or what? What's going on? How long will you have me stay out?"
Vasseur has now had his say on Hamilton's comments to GPblog. The 58-year-old said: "We didn't want to tell him the strategy at this stage because we didn't want to disclose it to the competitors. Because we wanted to keep him on track until the end but he was able to keep Antonelli behind him and I think it would have been the right call."
Addressing the earlier drama with Leclerc, he added: "Charles was supposed to pit, we extended one lap and it was a kind of confusion but I'm not worried about this. Everybody will be back in the briefing, they will have a clear picture about the race."
Championship impact
Hamilton had a stroke of luck thanks to a Lap 55 Virtual Safety Car, which helped him emerge ahead of his teammate after stopping. The Brit eventually secured P4, but will feel like some points were thrown away in his bid to catch Antonelli in the Drivers' standings. Hamilton is now 59 points behind the Italian, equal with former Mercedes teammate George Russell, who finished P3.
Formula 1 returns in September at Monza with European races to follow in Spain and Azerbaijan before the Bahrain GP in October.
