Leclerc slams Ferrari strategy call after losing out to Russell

Charles Leclerc did little to hide his frustration after Ferrari's strategy call at the Dutch Grand Prix, a decision he believes effectively handed George Russell third place. The Monegasque finished fourth at Zandvoort, unable to threaten the Mercedes despite appearing to have the pace.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's strategic missteps have long been a recurring criticism, and Sunday offered another reminder that even with a competitive car, the team can undermine its own chances. In a tight championship fight, such mistakes carry extra weight.

The details:

• The decisive moment came when Ferrari pitted Leclerc shortly after Russell's stop, leaving no window to exploit fresher tyres.
• Leclerc told Sky Sports: "I didn't really understand why we had to box so close to George's pit stop, because that really was kind of signing to finishing behind George."
• He believed his tyres still had life, especially after seeing Lewis Hamilton's alternative strategy deliver a significant pace advantage.
• Leclerc also pointed to VSC timing and his own qualifying performance as factors, but the pit call stood out as the main frustration.

What's next:

Leclerc heads to Monza with cautious expectations, despite Ferrari bringing upgrades. He recalled Silverstone and Spa, where the team expected to struggle but proved stronger, and hopes that repeats. Still, he admitted it will "probably be a difficult weekend" — a telling sign of Ferrari's current uncertainty.