{"id":1105,"date":"2026-08-22T16:48:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T19:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=1105"},"modified":"2026-08-22T16:48:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T19:48:02","slug":"hamilton-praises-ferrari-race-pace-in-zandvoort-we-can-keep-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/hamilton-praises-ferrari-race-pace-in-zandvoort-we-can-keep-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Hamilton praises Ferrari race pace in Zandvoort: &#8220;We can keep up&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key takeaways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Encouraging race pace:<\/strong> Lewis Hamilton highlighted Ferrari&#8217;s long-run race pace as a positive sign following qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix, expressing confidence that the Scuderia can keep up with McLaren and Mercedes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fifth on the grid:<\/strong> The seven-time World Champion qualified 5th at Circuit Zandvoort, lining up one spot ahead of teammate <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/ferrari-evaluates-hamiltons-tough-sprint-qualifying-in-zandvoort-lacks-balance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Charles Leclerc<\/a> on the third row.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategy as key:<\/strong> Hamilton emphasized that tire management and race strategy will prove decisive around the narrow Dutch circuit on Sunday.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lewis Hamilton remains optimistic about Ferrari&#8217;s prospects for the Dutch Grand Prix despite qualifying behind McLaren and Mercedes at Circuit Zandvoort. Pointing to encouraging race pace simulations from the SF-26 over the weekend, the seven-time World Champion expects to be in the fight on Sunday.<sup><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hamilton secured 5th on the grid in Saturday afternoon&#8217;s main qualifying session, finishing three-tenths behind pole-sitter Lando Norris and one spot ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc. While single-lap tire warm-up remained a persistent hurdle, Ferrari demonstrated stronger long-run stint consistency throughout track sessions.<sup><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked in an interview attended by <em>GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/em> whether single-lap tyre warm-up difficulties could translate into a race advantage by preventing thermal degradation, Hamilton acknowledged the team&#8217;s race trim looked competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The race pace was better today. Mine wasn&#8217;t great, but Charles&#8217; was particularly good. The car is much better, and I think tomorrow will be better,&#8221; Hamilton stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-classificacao-ferrari-lewis-hamilton-03.jpg\" alt=\"F1 2026, PAISES BAIXOS, QUALY, FERRARI, LEWIS HAMILTON\" class=\"wp-image-1020312626\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.500015259254738;width:896px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-classificacao-ferrari-lewis-hamilton-03.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-classificacao-ferrari-lewis-hamilton-03-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1-2026-paises-baixos-classificacao-ferrari-lewis-hamilton-03-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lewis Hamilton expressed confidence in Ferrari&#8217;s race pace for Sunday (Photo: Ferrari)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The performance signals a positive turn after setup experiments following opening practice left Hamilton struggling for balance during Friday&#8217;s Sprint Qualifying.<sup><\/sup> Having regained handling confidence through setup adjustments on Saturday, Hamilton expects the SF-26 to maintain a strong tempo over full race stints.<sup><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I think we will probably be able to at least keep up with those at the front. Strategy will be key,&#8221; Hamilton concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Formula 1 action continues at Zandvoort on Sunday for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. <strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/\">GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/a><\/strong> covers all track activities live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Follow all paddock updates on our <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/news\/\">news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td><strong>Session<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Local time (CEST)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>UTC<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Race<\/strong><\/td><td>Sunday, August 23 \u2013 15:00<\/td><td>13:00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Broadcast guide: Where to watch in the United States<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>United States (Eastern Time \/ ET)<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Broadcaster:<\/strong> Apple TV<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Race:<\/strong> Sunday, August 23 \u2013 09:00 ET<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions (FAQ)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Where will Lewis Hamilton start the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lewis Hamilton qualified 5th and will start on the third row alongside teammate Charles Leclerc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. What did Hamilton say about Ferrari&#8217;s race pace in Zandvoort?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hamilton noted that Ferrari&#8217;s long-run race pace was strong and expressed confidence that they can keep up with McLaren and Mercedes on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. What upgrades did Ferrari bring to the Dutch Grand Prix?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ferrari introduced an updated floor specification alongside new power unit exhaust components for both drivers at Zandvoort.<sup><\/sup><\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari has the race pace to match McLaren and Mercedes at the Dutch Grand Prix, identifying pit strategy as the critical factor for Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020312628,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Lewis Hamilton expressed confidence in Ferrari's race pace for Sunday","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Ferrari","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[{"id":21,"location":"Zandvoort"}],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[56,63],"42wp_author":[21],"class_list":["post-1105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1","tag-ferrari","tag-lewis-hamilton","42wp_author-leonid-kliuev"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1105"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1106,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1105\/revisions\/1106"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020312628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1105"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=1105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}