Ferrari’s SF‑26 failed to warm tyres enough for a competitive Dutch Grand Prix qualifying, leaving Lewis Hamilton baffled as the Alpine struggled to fifth and sixth.
Tyre temperatures cripplered the Ferrari effort
Both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc required two preparatory laps before their tyres reached the target window at Zandvoort, dropping them to fourth and sixth in Q3—three to four tenths off Lando Norris’s pole.
Hamilton said the cold system “didn’t give us the confidence to attack Turn 1.” He added, “The tyres were still not ready for Turn 1, it’s just nuts.” “They were cold, so I don’t know how they did that at the end. We couldn’t do it.”
Car performance versus rule‑making conditions
Leclerc also echoed that an extra warm‑up lap was “the right choice.” He claimed, “They managed to put the tyres in temperature for the first lap; we didn’t. I don’t regret the prep lap, especially because the rain didn’t fall more on the second lap.”
The seven‑time world champion accepted that other teams handle out‑laps better, noting “They definitely did yesterday, and they did today as well.” It was the first time he saw a complete out‑lap stay cold over a half‑lap at Zandvoort.
Race pace remains positive for Ferrari
Despite the qualifying setback, Hamilton praised Leclerc’s race pace, describing it as “particularly good.” He pointed out that the car’s race‑day behaviour is often faster than in qualifying, a feature that works “a little bit better in the race.”
Leclerc admitted a diffused advantage in racing conditions, noting that “this is an exception and we were strong in qualifying, but otherwise we always seem to be a bit on the back foot.” He added that reducing the gap is a “tendency” that requires deeper work.
Qualifying strategy under scrutiny
Leclerc stated, “We’ve got to work on that. It’s not black and white.” The driver said, “We’re trying to make the car as fast as possible, but for the characteristics we have, it works a little bit better in the race.”
He warned that on tracks where overtaking is difficult, a poor qualifying position can hinder standing “the other way.” The driver anticipates a solid sprint and “better on Sunday,” following the lap‑by‑lap commentary held at the circuit.
With tyre management still scrutinised, the Ferrari camp remains focused on the sprint’s output, leaning on the comfort of a stable transfer from race sort to respect the rival’s sprint performance. The engine returns to the Lauda‑park with a single lesson: tyre warm‑up must figure decisively in the next Dutch meeting.
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