Hamilton says Ferrari's delay cost him second place at Dutch Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton has publicly blamed Ferrari’s handling of teammate Charles Leclerc for costing him a second‑place finish at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix. In the post‑race press conference, the seven‑time world champion noted that Leclerc’s lap times were slower than expected and that the Italian team’s decision to keep Leclerc on track for longer than necessary may have prevented Hamilton from overtaking him.

During the race, Max Verstappen took the victory, with Leclerc finishing second and Hamilton third. Hamilton said that if Ferrari had moved Leclerc out of the way earlier, he would have had the opportunity to challenge for the runner‑up spot. He added that the delay was a “tactical mistake” that highlighted the difficulty of managing intra‑team dynamics in the high‑stakes environment of Formula One.

Ferrari’s team principal has not yet responded to Hamilton’s remarks. The incident underscores the ongoing rivalry between the two teams and the importance of precise timing in race strategy, as both drivers continue to vie for championship points in the closing stages of the season.