Lewis Hamilton has admitted he was disappointed by his Mercedes car after finishing eighth at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 39-year-old went into the event on a high after winning the Belgian Grand Prix before the summer break.

Yet Hamilton was forced to settle to eighth, with Lando Norris fending off competition from Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc to secure glory.

Hamilton, speaking after the race, said he was ‘happier’ on Sunday than he’d previously been. However, he also complained about his car – saying it was ‘not great’ compared to the last race in Belgium.

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he was disappointed by his Mercedes car after finishing eighth at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday. SKY

“I was much happier today,” he told Sky Sports.

“I was moving forwards, progressing, moving in the right direction, just too far back unfortunately.

“If I qualified where George [Russell] was (in P4) then I think I would have finished at least there, if not further ahead.

“I think we could have been close to a podium. I don’t know if we were faster than Ferrari but there were elements of our pace that was strong.

“The car was not great compared to the last race, when we had a lot more pace. We were closer to others today.”

Hamilton’s comments were backed up by team-mate George Russell, who also criticised the Mercedes car after finishing seventh.

“I don’t really understand what has happened, in all honesty,” admitted the 26-year-old.

“We were slow on all three tyres and went backwards.

“It was weird how we qualified fourth and were consistently just behind the three cars in front and in front of the Ferrari and it all disappeared.

“It just felt like it had no grip, like I was one ice.

“We definitely got something wrong somewhere, but I am scratching my head.”

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has also reacted to the race, with the Austrian admitting the car caused his drivers problems.

Lewis Hamilton could only finish eighth at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday. REUTERS

“It was a totally off weekend, vey surprising,” he said.

“There is a lot we need to look at as you don’t finish first and second three weeks ago and then end up seventh and eighth.

“There is a lot of head scratching, looking at data. The car was not good enough today.”

Norris, meanwhile, revealed he was targeting the F1 title after winning his second race of the season – having previously secured victory in Miami back in May.

Lando Norris was dominant as the McLaren star secured victory at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday. REUTERS

“I have been all year, it’s not like I have decided just do it now! I have had the car for a while, that is obvious,” he said when asked if he was eyeing a title hilt.

“It has been phenomenal. I wouldn’t say we have been the best since Miami but on average we have been.

“We had opportunities to beat Max and haven’t. But that is in the past.

“We have tried to improve in lots of areas and a result like today proves that. It feels like a good start to the second half of the year.”