Lewis Hamilton reflected on what might have been after finishing P8 at the Dutch Grand Prix, lamenting that a top-five finish could have been within reach if not for his disappointing qualifying session.
The seven-time world champion had a tough Saturday, exiting in Q2 and receiving a grid penalty that dropped him to P14. Despite a strong recovery drive, Hamilton felt his efforts were limited by his poor starting position, attributing part of the struggle to both himself and the car’s performance.
Meanwhile, George Russell, who finished just ahead of Hamilton in P7, was left baffled by Mercedes’ sudden drop in pace. After a promising start from P4, Russell found himself going backward during the race and was surprised by the unexpected loss of speed,
especially given the team’s recent strong form. He expressed concern over the setback but remained optimistic, noting Mercedes’ overall solid performance in the previous races. The team is now focused on understanding what went wrong at Zandvoort to bounce back in the upcoming events.
