Hamilton declares war at Ferrari: "Orders are not carried out immediately"
The Briton was very harsh about his situation in Zandvoort behind Charles Leclerc and puts an end to the "good vibes" at the Scuderia
Perhaps it only happens at a team like Ferrari or maybe wearing the red of Maranello makes everything seem bigger. But the Dutch Grand Prix left the Scuderia with a changed expression in this first half of 2026, when they had been the alternative to Mercedes and had won again thanks to Lewis Hamilton's victory in Barcelona and Charles Leclerc's at Silverstone. Because they could manage no better than 4th and 5th; and the podium slipped away due to team decisions that did not benefit either driver. Their chance of being Mercedes' alternative in the fight for the World Championship is fading.
Lewis Hamilton felt the most disadvantaged. His hard tire was working brilliantly and he could have covered the position against Russell and Piastri , who had more wear. But he was losing time behind Leclerc and the window closed. It did not sit well with him at all. “I want to win and I am here to win. It is difficult if you look ahead and see that the Mercedes drivers receive the order and carry it out automatically. Here it does not work the same way and it is difficult. We need to talk about it in private,” he said at the end. He was pointing at the red pit wall and at Leclerc .
It's difficult when you look ahead and see that the Mercedes drivers receive the order and carry it out automatically. Here it doesn't work the same way and it's difficult
The Monegasque is not experiencing a similar situation for the first time. Back in his years alongside Carlos Sainz there were moments of tension even in the Spaniard's victories, and with Hamilton everything is magnified. He did not want to let it pass, but he also did not have the pace of the rest of the rivals. “We were unlucky with the virtual safety car and it hurt us more than anything in qualifying,” he explained.
No prize... and off to Monza
The reward is null and the feeling is of another missed opportunity from a car that continues to stand out for its ability to perform well under high degradation. The foundation is good, but its drivers have their ups and downs, and they will arrive at Monza with the spotlight on them. For being idols of the public and for having to clear up those doubts. There will be upgrades, that is certain, at the Italian track and the normal thing is to see the red single-seaters at the front from the very beginning. The finishing touch will be missing, and that is where the doubt will remain.
“I don’t really know what to expect; on similar circuits we expected to struggle and we were very strong,” Leclerc himself concluded. The corners return to the team that feels them the most when things don’t go as they should. The threat of war has settled in at Ferrari .
