Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari's strategy decision in the Dutch Grand Prix proved the "ultimate" deciding factor in missing out on a podium.
With fresh tyres key at Zandvoort, Hamilton elected to run long through each stint of the race, meaning he was able to attack whilst rival drivers nursed their rubber to their next pit-stops, and after clearing Oscar Piastri's McLaren around half-distance, came across another of these drivers in team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton requested to be waved through to continue his attack, but Leclerc stayed in front for two laps, until pitting himself, with the delay drawing Hamilton's ire as he radioed into the team that the confusion was a “great way of wasting time, good job."
In the closing stages of the race after a late VSC for Esteban Ocon's stricken Haas, Hamilton attacked Russell for third place on far fresher tyres, but his challenge was halted by the deployment of another VSC on Lap 70 of 72 for debris from the Carlos Sainz-Alex Albon intra-Williams collision at Turn 1.
Hamilton took fourth in the end, earning 12 points, whilst championship leader Kimi Antonelli took second, pulling out six more points on the Briton, with Russell also scoring three more points than Hamilton, meaning the two are tied on 183 points in second, with Russell ahead on countback with two wins to Hamilton's one.
The pair are now 59 points behind Antonelli, who extended his lead by nine points across the weekend on Hamilton.
Reflecting, Leclerc, who finished fifth, explained that he had not received a call to cede position to Hamilton, and that he was told to stay out when passing the pits for the first time with Hamilton in pursuit, leading to the extra lap tucked up behind the sister SF-26 that earned Hamilton's chagrin.
For Hamilton, he was unequivocal that the time he lost behind his team-mate ultimately cost him a podium position - having claimed just one in the five races since his victory in Barcelona.
"It felt like it was that was the closest opportunity I had. I think I'd come through Turn 14 pretty close to him, and I was just opening SM and just getting on the boost," Hamilton explained to media, including RacingNews365.
"I don't know whether or not we would have got by because the Mercedes is just so quick in straight lines, so that was a challenge, but I do think the time was lost when I was behind Charles.
"I think that ultimately meant I had a bigger distance to cover to try and catch up to George.
"George wasn't ahead of him; Charles was on his own, so I think what's clear is I'm looking ahead and seeing Mercedes, and they execute like they got the car that's fighting for a championship in the lead, and they did it straight away, and here I'm sitting back losing seconds; it is something that we need to discuss offline.
"I’m here to win, and I really believe that this team can win. To win championships, you have to pick up every point. The last few races have been difficult with penalties, and I lost several seconds behind Charles, which I think ultimately would have made the difference at the end.
"My goal is to try and lead this team to the championship, and we’ve got some work to do for sure."
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