Zandvoort's Treacherous Turn 3 Claims Both Ferraris

The Dutch Grand Prix proved to be a weekend of misfortune for Ferrari, as both of their star drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, were forced to retire from the race. In a cruel twist of fate, both incidents occurred at the same notorious section of the Zandvoort circuit: the banked Turn 3, leading to a devastating double DNF for the Italian team.

Hamilton's Race Ends Early Due to "Driver Error"

Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton's race came to an abrupt end on Lap 23. While running in the points, Hamilton lost control of his Ferrari on the banking of Turn 3, sliding into the wall and sustaining significant front-end damage. He candidly attributed the incident to a "driver error," stating, "The rear was getting a bit twitchy… I got to Turn 3 and had a snap and I couldn’t recover it,” and it's "not a normal sort of thing for me to have, to crash out of a race." Hamilton elaborated that the light rain had made the painted track surface exceptionally slippery.

Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari after his unfortunate crash at Zandvoort's Turn 3.

Leclerc's Collision with Antonelli Seals Ferrari's Fate

Later in the race, Ferrari's woes were compounded when Charles Leclerc's Grand Prix bid also ended prematurely. Leclerc was involved in a collision with Kimi Antonelli, again at the challenging Turn 3. The contact forced Leclerc to withdraw from the race immediately, though Antonelli managed to return to the pits. Stewards later penalized Antonelli with a 10-second penalty for his role in the incident, sealing Ferrari's disappointing double retirement at Zandvoort.

Charles Leclerc's race ended after a collision with Kimi Antonelli at Turn 3.

A Challenging Circuit for All

The Zandvoort circuit, with its unique banking and demanding corners, proved to be a significant test for all competitors. The incidents at Turn 3 highlighted the fine margins and unforgiving nature of the track, particularly under changing weather conditions, contributing to a truly dramatic Dutch Grand Prix weekend.

The challenging Zandvoort circuit, where both Ferrari incidents occurred at Turn 3.