Hamilton predicts strategy battle after Verstappen takes Dutch GP pole

Lewis Hamilton has predicted strategy will play a crucial role in the Dutch Grand Prix after being narrowly pipped to pole position by title rival Max Verstappen.

Red Bull driver Verstappen was the man to beat in qualifying on Saturday but after the Dutchman set a weekend best of one minute 08.885secs, Hamilton recovered over three-tenths of a second to miss pole by just 0.038s.

With overtaking expected to prove difficult on Sunday, Hamilton expects strategy to come into play.

"It will be tough," said the Mercedes driver. "It's a difficult circuit to overtake but what a place for us to be racing.

"I think strategy will come into it a lot but we're going to see a crowd like this...we haven't seen a crowd like this in a while so it's really great to see so many people here.

"I hope that the track helps us provide a good race. It's a very, very tough circuit which is what makes it so fantastic to drive."

Despite being greeted by jeers from the 70,000-strong crowd, Hamilton paid tribute to the atmosphere created by the partisan crowd.

"I just want to say a big thank you to all of the orange fans here, the Dutch fans," he added.

"What an amazing venue, what an amazing track. I really do genuinely love coming to this country and I really appreciate the welcome. There are great sporting fans here.

"Max did an amazing lap and I was so close.

"I was trying to catch him but obviously with yesterday's session missed it made it a bit of a difficult day. I gave it absolutely everything but he did a fantastic lap and deserves a pole."

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