Ferrari’s difficult Dutch Grand Prix has put the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, as well as the team’s handling of its two drivers, firmly under the spotlight. Both drivers showed frustration over race management at Zandvoort, while Italian journalist Leo Turrini believes the tension inside the Scuderia has become increasingly evident as Ferrari now heads towards its home race at Monza.
After the summer break, Ferrari arrived at Zandvoort determined to begin the second half of the season strongly and, with an evolved SF-26, attempt to reopen the fight for the Constructors’ Championship. Despite those expectations, the circuit did not favour the Scuderia. From Friday onwards Ferrari struggled on the shores of the North Sea, particularly over a single lap.
The SF-26 consistently appeared to be the third force, behind a resurgent McLaren and a solid Mercedes. Ferrari could manage only fifth and sixth in qualifying, with the car unable to match the leading contenders. That came despite the drivers completing two more preparation laps than their rivals, theoretically creating favourable conditions but ultimately leaving them in a difficult position from which to build a strong race result on a circuit where overtaking is particularly challenging, even with superior race pace.
On closer inspection, however, Ferrari’s Dutch setback appears to have had causes beyond the SF-26 simply struggling to adapt to the characteristics of Zandvoort.
Ferrari’s set-up problems complicate Hamilton and Leclerc’s Dutch GP
A set-up that was far from optimal also played a role. The situation was complicated by the new SF-26 floor introduced at Zandvoort, with Ferrari encountering difficulties getting the tyres into the correct operating window.
That left Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with limited confidence in the car and forced both drivers to try to recover from further back. In practice, neither was able to make the progress Ferrari had hoped for. Heavy traffic made overtaking difficult, while neither driver fully capitalised on the two race starts.
Despite having a quick car over a race stint, there was therefore only so much Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could do to gain positions. They eventually finished fourth and fifth, a result that did not fully reflect the pace available to Ferrari during parts of the Grand Prix.
Ferrari pit wall comes under scrutiny over Hamilton-Leclerc battle
A strong late recovery almost brought Ferrari a podium, but the opportunity disappeared when a Virtual Safety Car was deployed to allow debris to be cleared from the circuit. The episode formed part of a wider Dutch GP strategy picture that left Ferrari with reasons for regret.
However, time had also been lost during the second stint when Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc found themselves fighting each other while running different strategies. Ferrari’s pit wall allowed its drivers to race, but the episode highlighted how difficult it had become to manage two different tactical approaches at the same time.
The pit wall appeared neither particularly decisive in handling the contrasting strategies nor quick enough to make a call. Any intervention would inevitably have disadvantaged one of the two drivers, but the situation still drew criticism from both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during the race and in their radio communications after the chequered flag.
The issue is particularly significant given that Ferrari had already faced questions over how Frédéric Vasseur would manage Hamilton and Leclerc when team orders became necessary. Zandvoort provided another example of just how delicate those decisions can become when both drivers are fighting for the same piece of track.
Leo Turrini: ‘At Ferrari, the gloves are off’
Leo Turrini also addressed the situation in his post-race reflections on his Profondo Rosso blog, offering a particularly strong interpretation of the mood surrounding Ferrari’s two drivers.
“At Ferrari, the gloves are off. Let’s forget the attempts to portray everything as normal. It is not normal to hear someone as charismatic as Hamilton say over the radio to the engineers: ‘You’re treating me like a guinea pig here!’ Leclerc’s nervousness was obvious, and it is understandable that he is irritated by finding himself behind his team-mate both in the finishing order and in the championship.”
Turrini’s assessment therefore goes beyond the sporting result itself. Lewis Hamilton finished ahead of Charles Leclerc at Zandvoort, while the championship situation was also cited by the journalist as another factor potentially contributing to the frustration surrounding the Monegasque driver.
Ferrari tension comes into focus before crucial Monza weekend
Ferrari now heads directly towards one of the most important weekends of its season: the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The emotional significance of the event, combined with the pressure to deliver a result for the Tifosi, means the team will want to put the frustrations of Zandvoort behind it quickly.
Turrini believes Monza could provide the ideal opportunity for Ferrari to respond, particularly with the Scuderia preparing a planned power-unit performance step for its home Grand Prix.
“We’re heading towards Monza. […] And I expect,” the well-known journalist wrote on his Profondo Rosso blog, “that the symbolic event in Brianza will, also thanks to a more powerful engine, give the fans back the joy that their passion deserves. If Hamilton and Leclerc were first and second, they would at least have a reason to argue over something more significant than a modest fourth place…”
Lewis Hamilton himself is already looking towards Ferrari’s home race with optimism, saying after Zandvoort that the Scuderia must start the weekend strongly and find the correct balance immediately if it wants to “fight for something special” at Monza.
For Ferrari, however, the challenge extends beyond pure performance. The SF-26 needs to deliver, but the team must also manage two highly competitive drivers effectively when their strategies and ambitions intersect. After the frustration of the Dutch Grand Prix, Monza will offer both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc an immediate opportunity to turn the page.
Leave a Reply