F1: Hamilton Says Ferrari Has a Lot of Work Ahead to Catch Mercedes

August 31, 2026

Lewis Hamilton evaluated Ferrari’s performance during the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix and stressed how the Italian team must respond to close the gap to Mercedes in the 2026 season.

During the race in Zandvoort, the seven-time champion briefly led the race after adopting an alternative strategy. However, he ended up dropping back into the pack and crossed the finish line only in fourth place, behind Lando Norris and the Mercedes duo.

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA) Mercedes AMG Formula One Team W17 and Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 battle for position.

Therefore, for the seven-time F1 champion, having led the race but not finishing on the podium was another revealing moment from last weekend’s event. “It was certainly good to lead, but seeing those guys closing in… the feeling was like, ‘Darn!’,” he said.

“I was thinking: ‘Will I be able to finish the race in this position?’. But they were coming in very fast, unfortunately; so, that’s it. I think, obviously, we have a lot of work ahead to try to close the gap to Mercedes,” he concluded.

Jake Thompson

Jake Thompson

I'm Jake Thompson, a motorsport journalist born and raised in North Carolina, where NASCAR weekends were basically family holidays. I’ve been covering everything from Formula 1 to rally raids for over a decade, blending sharp analysis with a fan’s heart. For me, writing about racing isn’t just a job — it’s the best seat in the house.