Vasseur reveals why Ferrari kept Hamilton's strategy secret at Zandvoort

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has revealed the team deliberately hid Lewis Hamilton's strategy from him during the Dutch GP to avoid alerting rivals. Hamilton, who finished fourth at Zandvoort, voiced frustration over team radio and later apologized publicly, but Vasseur insists the plan could have earned a podium had he kept Kimi Antonelli behind. Lando Norris won the race ahead of Mercedes pair Antonelli and George Russell.

Why it matters:

The episode highlights F1's constant tension between strategic secrecy and driver communication. Keeping plans from competitors is crucial, but leaving the driver out of the loop risks frustration and public fallout—something Ferrari must manage as the season tightens and the championship fight intensifies.

The details:

• Ferrari wanted Hamilton to stay out until the end on an alternative strategy if he could hold off Antonelli.
• The plan was kept from Hamilton to avoid tipping off rivals.
• Hamilton was angry when held behind Charles Leclerc, calling it a “great way of wasting time.”
• Leclerc said no order was given to let Hamilton past.
• Vasseur said the timing made a swap impossible: “You can’t ask him to do one lap more and to swap position in the middle of the straight line.”
• Hamilton later took responsibility for his radio outburst, admitting he wasn't “the best version of me.”
• Vasseur said he understood the frustration, noting that “everybody was a little bit lost” about tyre compounds at times.

What's next:

Ferrari will review the race in a clear-the-air briefing, with Vasseur confident everyone will get a clearer picture. As the Italian GP at Monza approaches, expect the team to sharpen their communication protocols—while keeping their strategic cards close to their chest. The incident may also influence how soon Ferrari loops drivers into strategy calls going forward.