Sports · Motorsport · 2 hrs ago
Hamilton apologises to Ferrari as Antonelli nears F1 title
Lewis Hamilton finished sixth for Ferrari after struggling with tyre wear in the closing laps.
During a mid-race virtual safety car, Ferrari called him into the pits, but he missed the entry and chose to stay on track.
He said he took responsibility for that decision and apologised to the team for the points lost.
Kimi Antonelli, a Mercedes driver, finished third behind winner Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Antonelli now leads team-mate George Russell by 102 points and Hamilton by 111.
He can secure the title at the US Grand Prix in Austin on 25 October if he wins, Russell finishes ninth or lower, and Hamilton finishes fifth or lower.
To clinch it there, Antonelli must leave Austin at least 125 points ahead, with up to five races remaining afterward.
Lewis Hamilton apologised to Ferrari after finishing sixth, saying he took full responsibility for decisions that cost the team points.
Hamilton stayed out during a virtual safety car instead of pitting and lost three places in the closing laps as his tyres degraded.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said leaving Charles Leclerc ahead of Hamilton was the right call because Leclerc had pitted later.
Kimi Antonelli finished third and extended his lead over George Russell to 102 points, putting him within reach of his first Formula 1 title.
Antonelli could clinch the title at the US Grand Prix in Austin on 25 October if he wins and Russell finishes ninth or lower, while Hamilton finishes fifth or lower.
- Who
- Lewis Hamilton apologised to Ferrari; Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli moved closer to the title.
- What
- Hamilton finished sixth after staying out during a virtual safety car and losing three places. Antonelli finished third and extended his championship lead.
- When
- At the race reported on 11 October 2026. The next race is the US Grand Prix on 25 October.
- Where
- The race venue is not stated. The next race is at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin.
- Why
- Hamilton said he chose to stay out to hold track position, but struggled with tyre degradation. Antonelli’s lead grew after George Russell finished ninth.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A painful lesson, but I take full responsibility for the decisions I made.
I'm sorry for the team for the points we lost today.
I think it was the right call.
Ferrari called both cars into the pits during a virtual safety car, but Hamilton missed the pit entry and stayed out.
Hamilton struggled with tyre degradation and lost three places, finishing sixth.
Hamilton apologised to Ferrari in a statement and said he took full responsibility for his decisions.
Antonelli could clinch the title at the US Grand Prix in Austin if he wins, Russell finishes ninth or lower and Hamilton finishes fifth or lower.
- Hamilton's finishing position
- Sixth
- Antonelli's finishing position
- Third
- Antonelli's lead over Russell
- 102 points
- Next race
- US Grand Prix, Austin, on 25 October
- Title-clinching condition
- Antonelli must win; Russell must finish ninth or lower; Hamilton must finish fifth or lower
Sources
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