Mistakes: Lewis Hamilton
(Picture: Getty Images)Lewis Hamilton has warned runaway title favourite Max Verstappen that he was on the cusp of a first win of 2022 despite a combination of safety cars and pitstop decisions costing him victory in the Dutch Grand Prix.
A virtual safety car when Yuki Tsunoda pulled off the track in bizarre circumstances and then an actual safety car to remove Valtteri Bottas’ stricken Alfa Romeo effectively denied Hamilton a shot at his first win of the season.
His team opted for him to stay out on the medium tyres but the Briton was fuming they brought teammate George Russell in for soft tyres and denied Hamilton a buffer between him and Verstappen.
It meant the Dutchman, to the delight of his home crowd at Zandvoort, was able to easily pass Hamilton when racing resumed.
“That was the biggest f*** up,” said Hamilton over the radio. “I can’t believe you guys f****** screwed me. I can’t tell you how p***** I am right now.”
In the end, he didn’t even finish on the podium as both Russell and then Charles Leclerc comfortably overtook him.
After speaking to his Mercedes team, Hamilton said: “I was just on the edge of breaking point with emotions. My apologies to the team because I don’t even remember what I said. I just lost it for a second but I think they know that it’s just so much passion.”
By winning, Verstappen extended his championship lead to 109 points with just 190 points available for the remainder of the season.
While it would require something monumental to deny Verstappen a second world title in the ensuing weeks, Hamilton said he was confident of at least picking up his own first win of 2022.
“We’ve not had a win since Brazil [last year] and finally they’re within our grasp,” he said. “I want to look at it as a glass half full.
“We came here struggling from the last race and we were fighting with the Red Bulls. Without the safety car, we would have been challenging for the win. If this could be the same at the next races, we’re going to be breathing down their necks and get that win.”
Following the chequered flag, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he understood Hamilton’s frustration but defended the team’s pitstop decision insisting it was their only option – admittedly a risky one – in order to go for the grand prix win.
“At the end, it didn’t work out for him but I’d rather take the risk to win the race with Lewis rather than finish second or third,” said Wolff.
