Telemetry from the final lap of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix clears Lewis Hamilton of performing an alleged brake-test on Charles Leclerc during Ferrari’s tense finish at Zandvoort. The two team-mates were running nose-to-tail behind George Russell as they fought over fourth and fifth positions while simultaneously trying to challenge the Mercedes driver for the final place on the podium.
The incident has become another talking point following a difficult post-race period for Ferrari, with tensions between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton having increased considerably during Sunday’s race. Strategic misunderstandings and frustration over the team’s management of a crucial phase of the Grand Prix had already created controversy, particularly when Lewis Hamilton found himself trapped behind his slower team-mate. Ferrari’s handling of situations involving its two drivers had already been a sensitive subject following discussion over possible team orders between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Alleged Lewis Hamilton brake-test on Charles Leclerc sparks debate
As if Ferrari needed any further tension, another controversy has now emerged surrounding an alleged brake-test by Lewis Hamilton on Charles Leclerc during the final lap. It should be stressed that the accusation has developed almost exclusively on social media.
At that stage, the two Ferrari cars were extremely close together, with both also right behind George Russell’s Mercedes in a three-way battle for the final podium position.
Television footage shows Charles Leclerc closing significantly on Lewis Hamilton during the last lap. Indeed, Charles Leclerc was able to put considerably more pressure on his team-mate for fourth place than Lewis Hamilton managed to exert on George Russell ahead.
The disputed moment occurred around Turns 6 and 7. However, analysis of the telemetry indicates that Lewis Hamilton’s driving was a legitimate defensive response rather than a brake-test.
Telemetry explains why Charles Leclerc suddenly caught Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton clearly had relatively little electrical energy remaining at that stage because he had already used a significant amount during his attempts to attack George Russell. He was therefore probably harvesting energy with the intention of launching one final attack before the chequered flag.
Charles Leclerc adopted the opposite strategy. The Monegasque deployed his available energy on the exit of Turn 3 and on the approach to Turn 7, reaching 304 km/h, compared with 290 km/h for Lewis Hamilton.
That 14 km/h speed difference meant Charles Leclerc then had to brake heavily, also dropping two gears. Crucially, however, Lewis Hamilton’s speed was very similar to the speed he had recorded at the same point on his reference lap.
The data therefore points towards a conventional attacking and defending situation. Charles Leclerc was closing rapidly after deploying his energy, while Lewis Hamilton defended his position with lateral movements. Those movements were legitimate, and the telemetry provides no indication that Lewis Hamilton deliberately braked in front of his Ferrari team-mate.
Energy management creates a wider Formula 1 safety concern
Beyond the Ferrari-specific controversy, the incident also raises a broader safety question that has already been discussed following similar episodes earlier in the season.
When two Formula 1 cars are fighting each other and differences of 15-20 km/h can suddenly develop depending on how each driver chooses to manage and deploy electrical energy, potentially dangerous closing-speed situations can inevitably arise.
The Zandvoort incident therefore illustrates how different energy-management strategies can dramatically change the speed differential between two cars even when neither driver is doing anything improper. For Ferrari, it came on top of an already complicated race in which Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s strategic priorities had already come into conflict.
Charles Leclerc showed clear frustration after the chequered flag
What is certain is that immediately after crossing the finish line, Charles Leclerc pulled alongside Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, turned his helmet towards his team-mate and shook his head in a clear display of disapproval.
It is impossible to know, however, whether Charles Leclerc genuinely believed Lewis Hamilton had carried out an unfair manoeuvre. Rather than reacting to the non-existent brake-test itself, Charles Leclerc’s irritation may instead have been caused by the lateral movements Lewis Hamilton used to defend his position on the final lap, even though those defensive actions were legitimate.
The episode adds to a tense aftermath of the Dutch Grand Prix for both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. What is certain is that the atmosphere around Ferrari heading towards the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in two weeks is anything but calm.
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