Hamilton: Ferrari 'Better for the Race' After Dutch GP Qualifying Turnaround

Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari's SF-26 is "better for the race" after overnight setup changes transformed the car ahead of Dutch Grand Prix qualifying. The Briton will start fifth at Zandvoort, just ahead of Charles Leclerc in sixth, with both drivers hopeful that strong Sprint pace can fuel Sunday success despite qualifying three tenths off Lando Norris's pole.

Why it matters:

Ferrari remain Mercedes' nearest challengers in both championships, making every point vital as the season resumes after the summer break. With Zandvoort offering notoriously few passing zones, converting promising race pace into solid results will be essential if the Scuderia is to keep pressure on the frontrunners.

The details:

• Setup evolution: Hamilton explained that subtle changes after Practice made the car "horrible" through Sprint Qualifying, robbing him of confidence. Revisions ahead of main qualifying produced a balance he was happier with, though adapting in just six laps proved challenging.
• Sprint promise: Leclerc's runner-up finish behind George Russell, including a pass on Lando Norris, proved Ferrari has genuine race-day speed around the twisty Dutch circuit.
• Leclerc's qualifying: The Monegasque blamed excessive power strategy changes and "weird" issues in Q3 for his sixth-place grid slot, conceding he never had the pace for pole.
• Upgrade progress: Team principal Frederic Vasseur confirmed the latest floor upgrades are performing as planned, continuing a season-long trend of steady, reliable development steps.

What's next:

Vasseur believes a likely two or three-stop race could open strategic opportunities, with Ferrari having gathered valuable tyre comparison data from the Sprint. If the SF-26's race trim delivers on Hamilton's renewed optimism, the Scuderia could yet challenge the Mercedes-McLaren lockout from the third row.