RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Lewis Hamilton says he didn't present "the best version" of himself when criticising his Ferrari team over the radio and in television interviews at the Dutch Grand Prix. <p>Hamilton sounded irate in a series of radio messages sent when he was being held up by team-mate Charles Leclerc despite the pair being on different strategies during the race in Zandvoort.</p><p>The seven-time world champion felt as though the lost time ultimately cost him a podium as he finished fourth just behind George Russell having been unable to overtake the Mercedes in an exciting finale.</p><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/standings">F1 2026 standings</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/schedule-results">F1 2026 calendar</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/f1/live-blog/12433/12466779/f1-news-rumours-and-gossip-formula-1-latest-updates-on-teams-driver-transfer-market-and-contracts">F1 Gossip Column</a></strong></li><li><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/ContentPromo" target="_blank"><strong>Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more</strong></a><strong>\ud83d\udcf1</strong></li><li><strong>Not got Sky? </strong><a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>Latest Sky Sports deals</strong></a><strong> or </strong><a href="http://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>stream F1 with no contract</strong></a> <strong>\ud83d\udcfa</strong></li></ul><widget id="1"></widget><p>Hamilton, who joined Ferrari from Mercedes in 2025, doubled down on his criticism of his team after the race when he compared the Italian squad's hesitation to get Leclerc out of his way to the Silver Arrows decisively ordering Russell to let his team-mate, championship leader Kimi Antonelli, pass him later in the race.</p><p>Reflecting on the weekend an in Instagram post on Monday, Hamilton said: "I've listened back to some of my radio and TV comments. In the heat of the moment frustration can come out, especially when you care as deeply as I do.</p><p>"But that wasn't the best version of me. I take responsibility for that, and I'll be better."</p> <widget id="3"></widget><p>The result saw Hamilton's deficit to Antonelli at the top of the drivers' standings increase to 59 points, with the Ferrari driver also dropping to third behind Russell, who has the same number of points as his former team-mate but has won more races this season.</p><p>Despite the race - won by McLaren's Lando Norris - representing a third successive grand prix for Hamilton without a podium, the 41-year-old insisted the fight for the title "is absolutely still on".</p> <widget id="4"></widget><p>He continued: "That passion comes from believing in this team, the people in it, and what we're building together. The direction is clear. The belief is there. And the fight is absolutely still on.</p><p>"Thank you for sticking with us and with me. We'll keep building, keep pushing and keep fighting."</p><p>Ferrari continued what has been an impressive development drive throughout the season by bringing a new floor and diffuser to Zandvoort, with the team's efforts drawing praise from Hamilton.</p> <widget id="2"></widget><p>"I'm incredibly proud of everyone back at the factory who continues to bring updates, find performance and push us forward," Hamilton said.</p><p>"To the team at the track, thank you. The commitment and effort never go unnoticed. We still have work to do, particularly over one lap, but we'll keep digging in, learning and improving together."</p><h3>Rosberg urges Ferrari improvement</h3><p>Hamilton's former team-mate Nico Rosberg urged Ferrari to improve their execution of races as he believes they have the potential for "much better results".</p><p>With Leclerc finishing a place behind Hamilton in fifth, Ferrari's deficit to Mercedes at the top of the Constructors' Championship grew to 87 points.</p> <widget id="5"></widget><p>"Ferrari have been top five all the time but there's a little bit of the feeling after every weekend of 'what could have been'," the 2016 world champion and <em>Sky Sports F1 </em>pundit said after Sunday's race.</p><p>"Even in the last couple of races - Hungary I felt [Lewis] could have won that if things had gone his way and, this weekend, they were a bit more off the pace, but only in qualifying. In the race they were fast.</p><p>"They keep on just not maximising weekends and that's how Lewis seems a bit frustrated, and also Charles. Both of them.</p><p>"It's very little things that seem to add up all the time. So they've got to improve that and on the execution side just nail it because they can really, just with that, get much better results."</p><p><strong>Formula 1 heads to Monza for Ferrari's home race at the Italian Grand Prix on September 4-6, live on Sky Sports F1. <a href="https://www.nowtv.com/watch-sky-sports-online?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink">Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime</a></strong></p>
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