Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari should have used team orders at Zandvoort, arguing that Charles Leclerc cost him valuable time during the Dutch Grand Prix.

Hamilton wanted Ferrari to act

Hamilton moved up to fifth after overtaking Oscar Piastri on lap 35. He then found himself behind a slower Leclerc, which prevented him from maintaining his progress.

Lewis Hamilton became frustrated after getting stuck behind Charles Leclerc during the Dutch Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver eventually complained over the radio, sarcastically criticizing the amount of time being lost.

Leclerc remained ahead until he made his pit stop on lap 43, finally freeing Hamilton to continue his recovery.

Hamilton later compared Ferrari’s approach with Mercedes, which instructed George Russell to give second place to Kimi Antonelli with seven laps remaining.

Mercedes’ decision influenced Hamilton’s frustration

Mercedes made the decision because Antonelli had significantly fresher tires and could potentially challenge Lando Norris for the lead.

Although Norris ultimately won, both Mercedes drivers accepted the decision and finished second and third.

Hamilton pointed to Mercedes’ decision to swap Russell and Antonelli as an example of more effective team management.

Hamilton believes Ferrari could have acted similarly when Leclerc was slowing his progress.

He said he wants to win and finds it difficult when he sees another team making an immediate strategic decision while Ferrari does not react in the same way.

Hamilton also said he intends to discuss the matter with Ferrari when he returns to the team.

Lost time behind Leclerc hurt Hamilton’s podium hopes

Hamilton eventually had a chance to fight Russell for third place, but a late Virtual Safety Car made the opportunity even harder.

The British driver said he was getting close to the Mercedes when the VSC was deployed on lap 70.

Hamilton believes the time lost behind Leclerc ultimately reduced his chances of challenging Russell for the final podium position.

He also pointed to Ferrari’s lack of straight-line speed.

Hamilton estimated Ferrari was losing around four tenths of a second per lap on the straights compared with Mercedes and McLaren.

That made overtaking particularly difficult and increased the importance of avoiding traffic.

Hamilton wants more engine performance from Ferrari

Despite his criticism, Hamilton praised Ferrari for bringing an upgrade to Zandvoort.

The seven-time world champion believes the team is moving closer to Mercedes, but he also thinks Ferrari must address its power deficit.

Hamilton praised Ferrari’s latest upgrade but believes the team still needs more engine performance to challenge Mercedes.

According to Hamilton, Ferrari has spent much of the season giving away performance on the straights.

He believes finding additional engine power is essential if Ferrari wants to close the gap and fight Mercedes consistently.

For Lewis Hamilton Ferrari, Zandvoort therefore produced a mixed result. The fourth-place finish was solid, but Hamilton believes Ferrari’s handling of team orders and its remaining power deficit prevented an even stronger result.

The Toyota Blade Master G packed a 3.5-liter V6, front-wheel drive, and a luxury-focused cabin into an understated hatchback that remains remarkably rare.

Toyota has built plenty of memorable performance cars, from the Celica and Supra to today’s GR Corolla. But one of its most unusual efforts has largely disappeared from the spotlight.

The Toyota Blade Master G was a Japanese-market hot hatch that paired an understated body with a 3.5-liter V6 producing 276 horsepower. It was front-wheel drive, automatic, and far more luxurious than the typical performance hatchback.

A V6 Hidden Under an Ordinary Hatchback

The Blade was positioned as a more upscale alternative to the Toyota Auris. It was never sold new in the United States, and the model remained exclusive to Japan.

Toyota launched the Blade in 2006 with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder. One year later, the company created something much more unusual.

The Toyota Blade Master G looked understated but packed a 3.5-liter V6 producing 276 horsepower.

The 3.5-liter 2GR-FE V6 transformed the compact hatchback.

The engine produced 276 hp and 254 lb-ft of torque, figures that were substantial for a small front-wheel-drive car at the time.

Unfortunately for enthusiasts, Toyota paired the engine with a six-speed automatic transmission rather than a manual.

The other unusual decision was the drivetrain. The Blade Master G sent all of its power to the front wheels.

That combination could have created significant torque steer and understeer, but Toyota made extensive chassis changes to compensate.

Toyota Reworked the Chassis Around the V6

Toyota knew that simply installing a large V6 in a front-drive hatchback would not create a convincing performance car.

The Blade Master G therefore received significant chassis upgrades.

The rear suspension used a double-wishbone setup rather than the torsion-beam arrangement found on the standard model. Toyota also fitted stiffer springs and larger brakes.

The Blade Master G received a double-wishbone rear suspension, larger brakes, and wider performance tires.

Factory equipment included 225/45R17 tires, ventilated front and rear brake discs, and lightweight five-spoke alloy wheels.

The car weighed around 3,241 pounds, only about 150 pounds more than the standard Blade despite the much larger engine.

The result was surprisingly quick.

The Blade Master G could reach 60 mph in roughly 5.8 seconds, beating several more obvious performance hatchbacks from the same era.

A Luxury Interior Made It Different

The Blade Master G was not stripped down or aggressively styled like many hot hatches.

The standard Blade was marketed as a more premium hatchback, and the Master G retained that character.

Inside, buyers could find leather- and suede-effect materials, a more upscale dashboard, and a cabin designed around comfort as much as performance.

The Blade Master G combined performance with a more luxurious cabin featuring suede-style materials and upscale finishes.

That approach made the Toyota fundamentally different from today’s GR Corolla.

The current GR model prioritizes performance, lightweight engineering, all-wheel drive, and a manual transmission. The Blade Master G instead attempted to create something more comfortable and discreet.

It was essentially a luxury sleeper.

One of Toyota’s Rarest Hot Hatches

Toyota discontinued the Blade in 2012 without developing a direct successor.

Approximately 2,880 Blades were produced, although reliable production figures specifically for the Master G are difficult to verify.

That makes the V6 version particularly unusual today.

Despite its rarity, examples on the Japanese used market can still be relatively affordable compared with modern collector cars, with prices typically cited in the $6,000-to-$12,000 range depending on condition.

The Blade Master G therefore represents one of Toyota’s most overlooked performance experiments.

A Forgotten Predecessor to Today’s GR Models

The Blade Master G did not directly create Toyota’s modern GR performance renaissance, but it demonstrated something important about the company’s engineering philosophy.

Toyota was already willing to take an ordinary hatchback, install a much larger engine, reinforce the chassis, and create something genuinely fast while keeping the exterior relatively anonymous.

That same idea can still be seen today in models such as the GR Corolla and GR Yaris.

The difference is that the Blade Master G went in a completely different direction. It offered 276 horsepower, front-wheel drive, an automatic transmission, and a premium interior instead of maximum aggression.

For enthusiasts searching for unusual Japanese performance cars, the Toyota Blade Master G deserves far more attention. It is one of the strangest and most interesting V6 hot hatches Toyota ever built.

The Mazda3 Turbo combines 250 horsepower, all-wheel drive, premium features, and everyday practicality at a price that undercuts the Volkswagen Golf R.

The Mazda3 Turbo is one of the most interesting alternatives to the Volkswagen Golf GTI for buyers who want performance without moving too far beyond the mid-$30,000 range.

The Golf GTI remains one of the best-known hot hatches on the market, but Mazda’s turbocharged compact offers a different combination of power, all-wheel drive, technology, and practicality.

With a starting price of $36,940, the Mazda3 Turbo sits close to the $34,590 Golf GTI while offering standard all-wheel drive.

Strong Performance for the Price

The numbers make the Mazda3 Turbo especially interesting.

Its 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces 250 horsepower, while the Golf GTI makes 241 hp. The Mazda also sends power to all four wheels.

The Mazda3 Turbo combines a 250-hp turbocharged engine with standard all-wheel drive.

The Golf R is significantly more powerful at 328 hp, but its $49,455 starting price is more than $12,000 higher than the Mazda.

The Mazda3 Turbo and Golf GTI both claim a 5.6-second 0-to-60-mph time, while the Golf R drops that figure to 4.4 seconds.

That makes the Mazda an interesting middle ground for buyers who want stronger performance than a conventional compact without spending nearly $50,000.

Another advantage is its all-wheel-drive system, which gives the Mazda a traction benefit that the front-wheel-drive Golf GTI does not provide.

Technology Designed Around Driving

The Mazda3 Turbo is also notable for how it integrates its technology.

The car uses a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, giving drivers more control without requiring a manual gearbox.

Mazda also equips the car with G-Vectoring Control Plus, a system designed to help manage power and weight transfer through corners.

The Mazda3 Turbo uses paddle shifters and G-Vectoring Control Plus to create a more controlled driving experience.

The result is a compact car that aims to feel composed rather than overly complicated.

The Mazda3 Turbo also offers a 12.3-inch infotainment display, although its control system is less convincing.

A rotary controller positioned behind the shifter is intended to let drivers navigate the system without reaching toward the screen. In practice, the layout can feel awkward and unintuitive.

The setup is an interesting attempt to balance touchscreen technology with physical controls, but it is not one of the Mazda’s strongest features.

A Performance Car That Still Works Every Day

One of the Mazda3 Turbo’s biggest advantages is that it does not behave like a specialized performance vehicle.

The car is based on a versatile compact platform and can function as a normal daily driver when you’re not interested in pushing its performance.

According to the figures provided in the source material, RepairPal estimates average annual maintenance costs at around $433.

The Mazda3 Turbo remains practical enough for everyday use while delivering significantly more performance than a standard compact hatchback.

The car also benefits from a broad range of driver-assistance and safety features.

The 2026 Mazda3 receives a 77/100 Quality & Reliability rating from J.D. Power, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the model a Top Safety Pick+ designation.

Those credentials strengthen the Mazda’s argument as a performance car that can still serve as a practical daily vehicle.

There Are Still Some Drawbacks

The Mazda3 Turbo is not perfect.

Its sloping roofline creates limited rearward visibility, forcing drivers to rely more heavily on the side mirrors.

The infotainment controller is another weak point, especially for drivers who prefer simpler interfaces.

There is also the question of value compared with less expensive alternatives.

The Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo, for example, starts at $28,890. Its 1.6-liter turbocharged engine produces 190 hp and sends power through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

It is nowhere near as powerful or capable as the Mazda3 Turbo, but it demonstrates how much less money buyers can spend on a sporty-looking compact.

Why the Mazda3 Turbo Stands Out

The Mazda3 Turbo occupies an interesting position between affordable sporty compacts and more expensive performance cars.

For $36,940, buyers get 250 horsepower, all-wheel drive, a turbocharged engine, paddle shifters, and a premium-oriented cabin.

It does not have the history or brand recognition of the Golf GTI, and it does not match the Golf R’s outright performance.

But it offers a particularly attractive combination of performance and everyday usability.

For buyers looking for a compact performance car that can handle daily commuting, bad weather, and weekend back roads without moving into a much higher price bracket, the Mazda3 Turbo remains one of the more compelling choices in the segment.