Lewis Hamilton's Dutch Grand Prix ended with both hope and frustration. After a strong recovery drive from P13 to P8, the seven-time world champion felt that a top-five finish was possible if not for a tough qualifying session. His teammate George Russell was also surprised by Mercedes' drop in performance. Hamilton's aggressive two-stop strategy helped him move up the field and earn four points. Despite starting nearly 10 places behind Russell, he finished just one spot and a few seconds behind him, showing what might have been with a better qualifying result. Hamilton's weekend was challenging from the start. He was eliminated in Q2 and was set to start P12 but received a grid penalty for impeding Sergio Perez in Q1, which dropped him further. Though he gained a few spots due to other drivers' penalties, his starting position ultimately limited his potential for a stronger finish.
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Hamilton said: 'We knew today was all about damage limitation. We managed to work our way back into the points but ultimately, we didn’t have the pace to fight for much more today. If we had qualified better yesterday, than it may have been a little different. I enjoyed getting past several cars though and putting the Soft tyre to use in that opening stint. It felt good to move forwards but I’m a little disappointed as if we had a better Saturday, then the fight would have been for more points.
'Strategy-wise, we were looking at running to the end on the one-stop. I had a lock-up on the Hard tyre though and that meant we switched to the two-stop. It was a shame to lose the point for the fastest lap at the end, but I should have put in a quicker effort earlier on.'
F1: 2024 Constructors' Championship
The 2024 Formula One season began with a stark contrast between Ferrari and Mercedes. While Ferrari exhibited early promise with a competitive and reliable car, Mercedes grappled with performance issues. This initial disparity resulted in a substantial points gap between the two teams in the Constructors' Championship.
However, as the season has unfolded, the competitive landscape has undergone a dynamic shift. Mercedes has demonstrated notable progress, narrowing the gap to Ferrari. The battle for third place in the Constructors' Championship is now a fiercely contested affair, with less than 100 points separating the two teams.
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While the Drivers' Championship may be out of reach for Lando Norris, McLaren's resurgence in the Constructors' Championship has ignited their hopes of challenging Red Bull. Their strong car and driver line-up have positioned them as a formidable contender for the title, their first since 1998. To secure this achievement, McLaren must maintain their current level of performance and avoid costly errors throughout the remainder of the season.
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