Lewis Hamilton ended Dutch GP qualifying with a glimmer of a smile. Starting from fifth place may not be ideal, but the Ferrari driver was radiating optimism ahead of the race at Zandvoort. His feeling with the car has changed dramatically after a string of difficulties throughout the weekend.
The crucial moment came during qualifying. Hamilton capitalized on teammate Charles Leclerc's power unit troubles to edge ahead. Both will start from the third row, with Leclerc in sixth. This gives the Maranello squad a solid platform to fight at the front.
“The car was much better, I’m much happier with it, I’m excited for tomorrow,” Hamilton said after qualifying. That statement underlines that the primary issue he faced during the Sprint, where he finished only seventh, was gradually being resolved.
Hamilton identified his main qualifying difficulty: lack of tire temperature. However, he believes this could turn into a strategic advantage over a long race distance. Better tire management compared to rivals could open the door to attack the podium positions.
“I think our race pace was better today. Mine wasn’t exceptional, but Charles’ in particular was good. I think the car gives much better sensations. In the race, we will be able to manage the tires until the end, and strategy will be key,” he added.
Regarding the power unit setup changes that affected Leclerc, Hamilton admitted the team also made a modification, but it was a rather simple one that had no major impact. This shows Ferrari’s technical readiness for what is expected to be a closely contested race.
With that in mind, Frederic Vasseur, as team principal, can be hopeful. Starting from the third row offers a good vantage point to observe the leaders’ moves, while setting up an attack in the middle of the race when pit stop strategies begin to define the outcome.
Baca Juga
Ferrari tampil cepat di sprint Zandvoort, tapi start P6 dan sulitnya menyalip bisa membuat Leclerc terjebak di GP Belanda. Analisis McLaren dan strategi ban.
Lewis Hamilton bingung dengan kesulitan Ferrari SF-26 memanaskan ban di GP Belanda. Kedua pembalap butuh dua putaran pemanasan, hasilnya start dari P5 dan P6.
Lewis Hamilton optimistis menjelang GP Belanda. Start P5, strategi ban jadi kunci. Ferrari siap bersaing dengan pengelolaan ban yang lebih baik.
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