Lewis Hamilton blames lack of DRS for failure to overtake Carlos Sainz at the Dutch GP

Lewis Hamilton expresses gratitude for the pit-stop team's performance in the face of adverse race conditions.

Lewis Hamilton blames lack of DRS for failure to overtake Carlos Sainz at the Dutch GP

Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz (Via IMAGO)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging race weekend at the Dutch Grand Prix, the home race of his main rival, Max Verstappen. He had to deal with the unpredictable conditions at the Zandvoort circuit. Throughout the event, the ever-changing weather posed a significant hurdle for all drivers, necessitating quick decision-making and adaptability.

The seven-time world champion started the race on 13th on the grid. Hamilton initially slipped to 20th due to a delayed call for intermediate tires. Navigating the challenging conditions, he showcased his overtaking finesse and adapted to the ever-changing track. Eventually finishing P6, he narrowly missed out on claiming P5 against Carlos Sainz, resulting from Sainz’s impressive defense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYT73Sod5I8

After the final restart, Hamilton noted that the Mercedes had gained swift pace after a disastrous start to the race, positioning them well to contend for the second-place spot. However, he highlighted that the absence of DRS proved a significant limitation.

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Hamilton believed that with access to DRS, he could have overtaken Carlos Sainz and secured a higher position. He said, as reported by Racefans.net, “I was quicker than Sainz at the end. I just needed DRS. Pace-wise, I think we would have been challenging the top 2.”

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Lewis Hamilton expresses gratitude for effective pit stops

Pit stop

After surviving the challenging race marked by adverse tire conditions, Lewis Hamilton appreciated the Mercedes crew’s excellent performance. He pointed out that although the day didn’t unfold as they had hoped, the hard work of his team has been note-worthy.

Hamilton’s post-race team radio conveyed his appreciation and urged his team to use the result as a stepping stone to push harder.  He said, “Thank you for a great job with the pit stops. Not the day we wanted today, but let’s keep pushing.”

During the post-race interview, Hamilton acknowledged that Mercedes possessed the pace to secure a podium finish. However, both Mercedes drivers faced setbacks due to a delayed pit call after rain hit the track in the early laps.

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