Hamilton could've made the right choice: 'Especially given his experience'

Mercedes looked to have a real chance at victory at the Dutch Grand Prix for the first time this season, but a late safety car forced the team to change strategy. Jolyon Palmer analyses the race of the Mercedes drivers.

During qualifying, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton looked fast, but a crash by Sergio Perez in the closing stages of Q3 meant the drivers had to take their foot off the gas due to the yellow flag. According to team principal Toto Wolff, Hamilton was competing for pole position before having to slow down. "Looking at the data, that statement is not untrue – Hamilton was a fraction up on Verstappen’s pole time at the point he backed off," Palmer writes in his column for Formula1.com.

Yet Hamilton would have lost a lot of time towards the finish. The Mercedes car loses a lot of time on the straight compared to the top speed of the Red Bull. Palmer reckons the seven-time world champion could have finished a close fourth if Sergio Perez had not hit the wall.

During the race, Hamilton ultimately made the wrong decision by not coming in for a new set of tyres during the safety car period. The Briton was overtaken by three drivers and dropped from the lead to P4. Teammate Russell chose the right strategy and finished on the podium.

"In hindsight it was a brilliant call from Russell and one Hamilton could have made as well, especially given the difference in seniority and experience between the two," Palmer says. Nevertheless, the former F1 driver understands Mercedes' choice. Track position is very important at Zandvoort. Russell had nothing to lose by pitting, while Hamilton's choice was a lot harder because of the chance of victory.