Ferrari ready to rebound as Hamilton gears up for Dutch Grand Prix return
Lewis Hamilton is set to return to action with Ferrari this weekend at Zandvoort, insisting he is “ready” and that the team is “fully focused” to hit the ground running after Formula 1’s summer break.
Hamilton had cast doubt on whether he would compete at the Dutch GP, saying he would “hopefully” be back for the first race after the shutdown. The 40-year-old described himself as “absolutely useless” after a challenging round in Hungary, finishing 12th as teammate Charles Leclerc placed fourth.
The Briton remains 42 points adrift of Leclerc in the world championship, has been out-qualified by his teammate on 10 occasions this season, and is yet to stand on the podium in Ferrari red. Despite the rough patch, Ferrari are optimistic about restoring momentum.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur outlined the mood heading into the weekend: “We’re back on track after the summer break, which gave the team and the drivers a chance to recharge, ready to face a very busy final part of the season. In the Netherlands, we want to maintain the positive momentum built up over the past few races, where we made progress in terms of competitiveness. Charles and Lewis are ready, and the team is fully focused, and determined to put them in the best possible position to get some good results.”
Across the paddock, there is also news on the driver market, with Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate George Russell reportedly close to a contract extension. However, PA understands there are no plans to rubber-stamp the deal during this weekend’s race.
In the broader picture, Oscar Piastri sits atop the standings as the second half of the season begins, holding a nine-point lead over McLaren colleague Lando Norris with ten rounds remaining.
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Additional context and commentary:
– The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort has historically been a turning point for teams seeking to transform a tougher first half into a stronger second half. Ferrari’s emphasis on consistency and race pace will be tested on a circuit that rewards high-speed cornering and precision setup.
– With Piastri leading the championship battle and Norris within sight, midfield and front-runners alike will be watching how Ferrari responds in practice and qualifying to unlock genuine race pace.
– The ongoing chatter about Hamilton’s position and potential team decisions adds an extra storyline to the weekend, but the emphasis from Ferrari remains squarely on improving performance and finishing the season strongly.
Summary: Ferrari enter the Dutch Grand Prix aiming to rebound from a difficult stretch, with Hamilton signaling readiness to compete and the team stressing focus and momentum as they look to close the gap to Leclerc and capitalize on the final part of the season.
If you’d like, I can tailor a shorter recap for social media or expand the analysis with a deeper look at Ferrari’s upgrade path and potential setup directions for Zandvoort.