For a while in the Dutch Grand Prix, it looked as though Lewis Hamilton was about to win his first race of the season. By the end of the 72 laps, he wouldn't even manage to secure a place on the podium.
While there is no doubt that Max Verstappen and Red Bull had the fastest car on the day, Mercedes would have had the chance to secure the win if they had employed a better team strategy.
Hamilton found himself in the lead with around ten laps to go, with a safety car on the track. Teammate George Russell was one spot behind him in second place, meaning that there was a buffer between the race leader and Max Verstappen in third.
This would have made it much more difficult for the defending world champion to get back into pole position.
Lewis Hamilton tears into Mercedes on team radio
However, Mercedes then made a rather odd team decision.
They allowed Russell to enter the pits in order to fit soft tyres, meaning that Verstappen would be directly behind Hamilton when racing resumed after the safety car left the track.
Unsurprisingly, he would immediately overtake his rival to get back to the top of the field.
Max Verstappen regains the lead at the restart, getting a big tow to slip past Lewis Hamilton 🚀 pic.twitter.com/rXLIIlgYeL
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) September 4, 2022
This certainly didn't go down well with Lewis Hamilton.
He clearly felt that Mercedes should have kept Russell out on the track, slowing down Verstappen and allowing him to build a larger lead to take into the final laps in an attempt to secure a win for the team.
While the new tyres allowed Russell to have a bit more pace in the closing stages, it did also rob the team of an opportunity to win the race.
Hamilton made his feelings clear over the team radio.
Safe to say that Lewis Hamilton is NOT happy with his team's strategy calls for the restart 🤬 pic.twitter.com/3OXlhKUjFN
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) September 4, 2022
That was the biggest fuck up...
I can't believe you guys fucked me, can't tell you how pissed I am.
He felt that the team strategy had cost him a potential race win.
Hamilton radio: "that was the biggest **** up" #DutchGP
— WTF1 (@wtf1official) September 4, 2022
Russell would then duel Hamilton for second place, ultimately overtaking him and finishing in that spot. Hamilton ended up in fourth after also being overtaken by Charles Leclerc, as Verstappen took home the win in a very comfortable fashion.
The younger Mercedes driver has certainly been the more successful on the track this year, now sitting 30 points ahead of his teammate in the driver's championship.
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