The British driver was disappointed with the team’s strategic decision which cost him the chance to challenge for victory and certainly a podium place. He let them fly over the team radio as he ran on old tires for the closing stages and quickly dropped from first to fourth in a race won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Hamilton insisted that strong emotions were inherent in his character. “I can’t, I don’t want to apologize for my passion because that’s how I’m made and I don’t always get it right,” he said. He acknowledged that he had gone too far and expressed his regret. “I was on the edge of emotions and I apologize to the team because I don’t even remember what I said. I just lost it for a second. But I think they know there’s so much passion.” Hamilton is winless this season and came close to taking victory at Zandvoort only for a late safety car to derail Mercedes’ successful strategy up to that point. However, when they failed to fit him for fresh tyres, he was left helpless on the track and quickly passed. The seven-time champion was adamant afterwards, however, that he retained full confidence in his Mercedes team-mates. “The team is a group of young, determined individuals,” he said. “I believe 1000% that we have the right team. Today was not an easy call. Of course we could always look back and see where we could have made a different choice. But that’s not life. You just learn from it.”
