Lewis Hamilton finally had reasons to smile in Zandvoort after a difficult run of races. The seven-time world champion returned to Q3 for the first time in several weeks, placing seventh on the grid for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix. His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, however, left the session far less satisfied, despite qualifying just one position higher in sixth.
For Hamilton, the result marked a small but meaningful breakthrough. Having missed out on Q3 for three consecutive weekends, he rediscovered both pace and enjoyment behind the wheel.
“This weekend we’ve made progress, and that was the goal,” Hamilton said. “The approach has been better, everything has felt more enjoyable, and I think I’ve managed to get the most out of the car in every session.”
Still, he admitted his final lap wasn’t perfect. A slow exit from Turn 1 cost him time, which meant fifth place might have been possible with a cleaner run. Looking ahead to race day, Hamilton was realistic but optimistic: “The McLarens are in another league, but we’re close to the cars around us. It’s hard to overtake here, so strategy will matter. Hopefully, the weather mixes things up, and I’ll be ready to take every chance.”
While Hamilton sounded upbeat, Leclerc was left frustrated. Despite qualifying in sixth, he described his weekend as one of inconsistency and self-doubt.
“I’m very disappointed with myself,” Leclerc admitted. “I’ve struggled to find a rhythm. I kept changing things from one session to the next, chasing something that wasn’t really there. That makes it impossible to build consistency.”
The frustration only grew in Q3, where Leclerc failed to deliver a clean lap. He also suggested that Zandvoort’s narrow and technical layout magnifies Ferrari’s weaknesses, making this one of their most difficult weekends.
“This track highlights our limitations more than others,” Leclerc explained. “I didn’t do a good job today, and the car wasn’t strong either. We expected a tough weekend, but it’s still disappointing.”
As Ferrari prepare to start with both drivers inside the top seven, the mood in the garage is divided. Hamilton looks revitalised, encouraged by signs of progress, while Leclerc faces the task of regaining confidence. With overtaking limited and weather looming, Sunday’s race at Zandvoort could test both drivers in very different ways.
20
20
