A weekend of what might have been for Lewis Hamilton at the Dutch Grand Prix culminated in a brutal admission from the seven-time world champion, who saw a potential victory slip through Mercedes' fingers at a chaotic, rain-soaked Zandvoort.
Hamilton, who qualified a disappointing 13th after being caught out by a dramatic late downpour in Q2, staged a remarkable recovery drive. However, a critical strategic decision to stay out on slick tyres as rain began to fall ultimately cost him a shot at a podium, leaving him to finish a frustrated sixth.
Russell Reaps Rewards as Hamilton Rues Missed Chance
In a stark contrast of fortunes, teammate George Russell executed a flawless race. Benefitting from a perfectly timed switch to intermediate tyres, the younger Briton surged through the field to claim a sensational second place, securing Mercedes' first podium since Canada.
The result highlighted a tale of two strategies within the Silver Arrows garage. While Russell's gamble paid dividends, Hamilton was left stranded on track, helplessly sliding on dry tyres as his rivals pitted. By the time he eventually stopped, the race-winning opportunity had vanished.
Vasseur Defends Ferrari's Aggressive Zandvoort Approach
Elsewhere, Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur robustly defended his team's aggressive strategy calls, which saw Charles Leclerc retire and Carlos Sainz finish fifth. Vasseur insisted that the Scuderia's high-risk approach, while not always paying off, was the only way to challenge the dominant Red Bull of Max Verstappen, who claimed a historic third consecutive home victory.
"When you are in this situation, you need to take risks. If you take risks, sometimes you are doing a mega weekend and sometimes you are doing a so-so weekend," Vasseur stated, justifying the team's philosophy.
The result leaves Mercedes solidly in second place in the constructors' championship, but the Zandvoort weekend will be remembered as a massive missed opportunity for Lewis Hamilton to claim his first win since 2021.
