Autobayng News Team
Lewis Hamilton said his Dutch Grand Prix performance was one of his strongest for Ferrari before the crash which put him out of the race.
He qualified immediately behind his team mate Charles Leclerc and was running seventh when he ran wide and crashed at the Hugenholzbocht. However Hamilton said he “definitely” felt more comfortable in the car prior to his crash.
“Throughout the weekend, the approach we had was spot-on,” said Hamilton. “I felt it was one of our strongest – if not, the strongest – and smoothest weekends up until Sunday.”
Hamilton lost control of his car when he ran onto the painted run-off on the outside of the corner which had become wet due to rain. “Sunday was disappointing and unfortunate, not the result we want,” he said. “It’s unusual for me because I don’t really make a lot of mistakes in races like that.”
He said his team had been “really positive” despite his retirement. “They lift your spirits.
“Then in the following days, they deep-dived into trying to understand what led to it. It wasn’t a lack of concentration.
“There were several things that contributed: for example, we had a downgraded upshift, which locked the rear wheels and spat the rear end out. Also, it was spitting and so I was maybe 10 millimetres or 10 centimetres wider than the previous lap. So a combination of things.
“Either way, it’s not great, but I learn from it and move forward. If I apply that same approach this weekend and the following races, I feel positive about the direction we’re going.”
Ferrari won last year’s Italian Grand Prix but Hamilton is unsure they’ll be as competitive again this year.
“I’m still obviously in my first year with the team and so every weekend is the first time driving this car at that track,” he said. “The approach is different from my previous experiences. When you go to different places, the set-up’s different. So it’s always new, which I’m enjoying at the moment.
“I think Ferrari’s journey has gone pretty well in the past years. Obviously, they won here last year with a great strategy and a great drive from Charles. I’m really keen to see how the car works here.”
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