Lewis Hamilton remained positive despite a difficult Formula 1 qualifying session at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Ferrari have solidified themselves as one of the top teams in the new 2026 regulations. A step behind Mercedes, who came out of the gate with a significant advantage, but the prancing horses have worked to close the gap tremendously since. Claiming victories in Barcelona and Silverstone.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. The Dutch Grand Prix weekend came with promise, with the Ferrari drivers performing decently in the Sprint Race, Charles Leclerc taking second.
Into the qualifying session for the main race, it wasn’t quite as easy for the Maranello-based team. The pace they’d had earlier in the weekend seemed to have dissipated, putting both drivers behind the Meceredes and, crucially, the McLarens too.
Hamilton finished ahead of his Monegasque teammate, lining up for the race in fifth. Leclerc told the media that the SF-25 is definitely a car that favours race pace over one-lap pace.
Hamilton told the media, including Motorsport Week, that the car felt much better, despite not showing in the final positions.
“I was much, much happier with the car. In qualifying, thankfully.”
Hamilton building confidence at the Dutch GP
However, he explained that it’s difficult to know how to push and where to push when you’re constantly rebuilding your confidence in the car.
“But it’s not that helpful when you… It’s like, when it comes to building confidence, it’s like you put in brick by brick; you’re putting it down, building a wall, knocking down that confidence that I had in FP1, didn’t have it through sprint qualifying, and then I just basically started again building.
“The car was much better; I’m much happier with it, and I’m excited for tomorrow.”
The Sprint Race showed that the Ferrari race pace is definitely there, with Leclerc making one of the few overtakes in the shorter race. On a track where overtaking is hard, Hamilton said that the race pace made him hopeful.
“I think our race pace was better today. Mine wasn’t great, but Charles’s particularly was good. I think the car feels much better, and it’s going to be better tomorrow.
“So I think we’ll probably be able to hold on to the guys up ahead, at least.”
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