Sports · Motorsport · 7 hrs ago
Hamilton takes responsibility for Ferrari strategy error in Singapore
Lewis Hamilton finished sixth in the Singapore Grand Prix after starting third for Ferrari.
During a virtual safety car period, Ferrari called him in to the pits, but he missed the entrance.
He then chose to stay out and try to hold his position, but his soft tyres wore down in the closing laps and he lost three places.
Hamilton said he took full responsibility and apologised to his team for the points lost.
He had started on medium tyres, which did not perform as well as the soft tyres, and said he had hoped to make a one-stop strategy work.
The result also affects the title fight: Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is 102 points ahead of team-mate George Russell and could clinch the championship at the next race in Austin on 25 October.
Antonelli needs to leave Austin at least 125 points clear, with five races at most remaining after it.
Lewis Hamilton finished sixth at the Singapore Grand Prix after staying out when Ferrari called him into the pits during a Virtual Safety Car.
Hamilton said he missed the pit entry and then chose to stay out to hold his track position.
He apologised to Ferrari and took responsibility for the decision, saying it cost the team valuable points.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the team had called both drivers in and believed it had missed a chance to finish second and third.
Charles Leclerc finished second, while Max Verstappen won the race.
- Who
- Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari.
- What
- Hamilton stayed out after Ferrari called him to pit under a Virtual Safety Car, then finished sixth and apologised.
- When
- At the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, 11 October 2026.
- Where
- Singapore.
- Why
- Hamilton said he missed the pit entry and then chose to stay out to hold track position. He had earlier stopped because the medium tyres were not performing as well as the soft tyres.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We called him, we called them both to pit
Under the virtual safety car, the team called me in but I missed the entry. After that, I decided to stay out and try to hold track position to the end but in the closing laps, I was struggling massively with tyre degradation and lost three places, finishing P6, which doesn't reflect the pace we had in the car.
I let you down today with that strategy. My call, and I lost us valuable points. I’ll try and make up for it in the next one. Great job with the pitstop though.
Hamilton made his first pit stop, earlier than Leclerc, after the medium tyres did not perform as well as expected.
During a Virtual Safety Car, Ferrari called both drivers to pit, but Hamilton stayed out.
Leclerc moved ahead of Hamilton.
Kimi Antonelli passed Hamilton for third.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri also passed Hamilton, who finished sixth.
Hamilton apologised to Ferrari and said he took full responsibility for his decisions.
- Race
- 2026 Singapore Grand Prix
- Hamilton's finish
- Sixth
- Leclerc's finish
- Second
- Race winner
- Max Verstappen
- Pit call
- Ferrari called both drivers in during the Virtual Safety Car on Lap 39
- Hamilton's first stop
- End of Lap 18
Sources
‘I let you down’: Hamilton apologises for ignoring Ferrari call
Lewis Hamilton 'let down' Ferrari team with disastrous Singapore Grand Prix strategy error
Hamilton apologises to Ferrari as Antonelli moves to brink of title
Hamilton apologises to Ferrari for overriding strategy call
Why Hamilton's Singapore GP really imploded
Lewis Hamilton apologises for ‘letting down’ Ferrari at Singapore GP
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