A missed pit entry and a high-risk strategic choice cost Lewis Hamilton a guaranteed podium finish at the Singapore Grand Prix.
What initially looked like a strong weekend for Ferrari ended in frustration for Hamilton, who tumbled from a top-three spot down to P6 after overruling a critical team pit call.
What Happened
Ferrari set up the race in a strong position to challenge Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after securing a solid 2-3 dynamic in both the Sprint and qualifying. Charles Leclerc ran an effective opening stint on soft tires, while Hamilton started on mediums and pitted early on lap 19.
As Leclerc pulled ahead, Hamilton was instructed to manage his tire wear. The turning point of the race arrived when a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period was deployed.
Ferrari’s pit wall explicitly called for both drivers to pit in a double-stack maneuver. Team Principal Fred Vasseur later confirmed that double-pitting would have comfortably locked in a P2 and P3 finish for the team.
However, Hamilton chose to remain on track, missing the pit entry and leaving his car on aging tires for the closing laps.
The Strategic Breakdown
The gamble failed immediately. Without fresh rubber, Hamilton’s lap times degraded sharply, leaving him vulnerable to the cars charging behind him.
Kimi Antonelli, alongside McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, swiftly overtook the defenseless Ferrari. Hamilton ultimately limped across the finish line in sixth place.
Vasseur was direct when analyzing the late-race breakdown.
"The call was to pit, and Lewis decided to stay on track," Vasseur explained. "I think it was a mistake overall—we would’ve gone for P2 and P3 today. He apologized on the in-lap for the strategy."
Hamilton took full responsibility over the team radio, apologizing to his crew: "Sorry boys, I let you down with that strategy."
What's Next
Missing out on what would have been his seventh podium of the season was a major blow, but Ferrari leaves Singapore with encouraging performance data. Vasseur noted that the car's underlying pace was solid and urged the team to immediately turn their focus toward the next round in Austin.
