Sports · Motorsport · 4 hrs ago
Hamilton explains why he ignored Ferrari's pit call in Singapore
Lewis Hamilton said he chose to stay out when Ferrari called him into the pits during the Singapore Grand Prix.
He explained the decision at a press conference in Austin before the United States Grand Prix.
Hamilton said he did not know team-mate Charles Leclerc was also coming in and made a split-second choice.
He later realised it was probably the wrong call and said he took responsibility for it.
Hamilton had also chosen a different tyre strategy because he wanted a chance to beat the faster Red Bull of Max Verstappen, rather than simply follow Leclerc.
The plan did not work, and worn tyres left him sixth after he had been in contention for a podium.
Hamilton said he and Ferrari have discussed how to work better together, but he will keep challenging the team's decisions; the United States Grand Prix is next.
Lewis Hamilton said he overruled Ferrari’s call to pit during a Virtual Safety Car at the Singapore Grand Prix.
He said he stayed out in a split-second decision after not knowing that team-mate Charles Leclerc was coming in.
Hamilton finished sixth after his tyres wore in the closing stages, having appeared on course for a podium.
He said he chose a different starting tyre strategy to try to find a way to beat Max Verstappen.
Hamilton said he had discussed improving collaboration with Ferrari but would continue challenging the team’s norms.
- Who
- Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, including team-mate Charles Leclerc.
- What
- Hamilton explained why he ignored Ferrari’s call to pit under a Virtual Safety Car. He said he made a split-second decision to stay out.
- When
- At the Singapore Grand Prix; Hamilton explained his decision on Thursday ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
- Where
- The Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay; Hamilton discussed it at a press conference in Austin.
- Why
- Hamilton said he did not know Leclerc was coming in and chose to stay out. He had also wanted a different strategy to seek a chance of winning.
Hamilton
Alex Jacques
Pit strategy
Hamilton
Hamilton said he wanted to try a different strategy and would continue to challenge Ferrari’s norms.
Alex Jacques
Jacques said Hamilton should not gamble on his own strategy and that Ferrari needs to give him a direct instruction.
Team approach
Hamilton
Hamilton said he and Ferrari had discussed how to collaborate better and that their work together had not changed.
Alex Jacques
Jacques argued that a driver needs the full team unit around him and warned that going it alone at Ferrari could harm the relationship.
Hamilton stayed out after Ferrari called him to pit under a Virtual Safety Car.
Hamilton apologised over team radio and took responsibility for the strategy decision.
Hamilton said in a social media post that he had learned a painful lesson.
Hamilton explained his decisions at a press conference in Austin.
- Singapore result
- Hamilton finished sixth
- Pit call
- Ferrari called Hamilton to pit under a Virtual Safety Car
- Team-mate
- Charles Leclerc
- Starting tyre strategy
- Hamilton started on medium tyres
- Next race discussed
- United States Grand Prix
5 sources
'That's not enough for me' - Hamilton explains taking strategy into own hands
Hamilton explains why he overruled Ferrari in Singapore
Lewis Hamilton explains his failed “split-second” Singapore strategy gamble
Lewis Hamilton warned over dangerous Ferrari gamble: 'A very worrying path'
What people are saying
In a split second decision, I decided to stay out. And as soon as I was alongside the pit lane, I realised it's probably the wrong decision.
the strategy kind of showed just us finishing second and third and that's not enough for me.
you need the full team unit surrounding you.
You can’t be gambling with pitting under the Virtual Safety Car - it’s one of the most obvious things you can get in Formula 1 in terms of taking a cheap pit stop.