Hamilton apologises to Ferrari after Dutch GP radio outburst

Lewis Hamilton has apologised to his Ferrari team after a frustrated radio outburst during the Dutch Grand Prix, admitting it "wasn't the best version of me." The seven-time champion was left fuming behind teammate Charles Leclerc, with Ferrari's strategy communication leaving him in the dark.

Why it matters:

This moment highlights the tension within Ferrari as they push to close the gap to Mercedes and McLaren. Hamilton's passion and accountability show a team still building trust, but race-day execution remains a key area for improvement.

The details:

• Hamilton grew frustrated when stuck behind Leclerc, who was on older tyres.
• "Great way of wasting time guys, good job" was his sarcastic radio message after Leclerc finally pitted on lap 43.
• Ferrari delayed telling Hamilton to avoid alerting rivals, and had to extend Leclerc's stint due to traffic.
• Hamilton later apologised on social media, saying he takes responsibility and will be better.

The big picture:

Ferrari's recent upgrades have brought wins for both drivers, and Hamilton sits third in the championship, level on points with Russell. But race execution still needs work. Hamilton remains confident: "The direction is clear. The belief is there. And the fight is absolutely still on."

What's next:

Hamilton says the team still has work to do, particularly over one lap. The late virtual safety car helped Russell defend third, leaving Ferrari fourth and fifth.