Lewis Hamilton apologizes to Ferrari after strategic error in Singapore

Lewis Hamilton finished sixth at the Singapore Grand Prix after a strategic decision to ignore Ferrari's pit call cost him a potential podium finish. During a Virtual Safety Car period on lap 39, Hamilton opted to stay on track instead of following teammate Charles Leclerc into the pits, a move he later admitted was a mistake.

Following the race, Hamilton apologized to the team, stating, “I let you guys down today with that strategy.” He explained that he had attempted a one-stop strategy using medium tires initially, but the decision to bypass the pit window under the safety car left him struggling on soft tires in the closing stages. This resulted in him being overtaken by Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri.

Former drivers and commentators have weighed in on the incident. Jean Alesi suggested the clash between Hamilton and the pit wall was “bound to happen” given recent tensions, while Martin Brundle described the decision as “bizarre.” Conversely, Rene Arnoux noted that Hamilton may have felt compelled to make his own decisions following previous strategic errors by the team at Silverstone and Hungary. Despite the setback, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur and legend Emerson Fittipaldi noted the car's competitive pace, with Fittipaldi defending Hamilton's competitiveness and the team's overall direction.