Lewis Hamilton has explained why he decided to ignore Ferrari’s pit stop instruction during the Virtual Safety Car period at the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix, accepting full responsibility for a gamble that ultimately cost the team valuable points. Speaking ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion revealed that he had been unwilling to settle for third place and believed challenging his team’s decisions was part of his responsibility as a driver.
The explanation comes as Ferrari prepares to introduce its final substantial upgrade package of the season for the SF-26 at the Circuit of The Americas. Before turning his attention completely to the Austin weekend, however, Lewis Hamilton faced renewed questions about the controversial decision at Marina Bay two weeks earlier, when he chose to remain on track despite being called into the pits during a Virtual Safety Car.
The British driver had already accepted responsibility immediately after the race, both over team radio and through statements published on Ferrari’s official website and social media channels. However, he had been unable to discuss his reasoning in detail at the circuit because he was feeling unwell and had gone to the medical centre, missing his scheduled media interviews. Fortunately, the illness had no lasting consequences.
Hamilton has now provided a fuller account of the circumstances behind the decision, from his original choice of medium tyres at the start to the split-second judgement that prevented him from taking advantage of the neutralisation period.
Lewis Hamilton explains why he rejected Ferrari’s Singapore VSC pit call
Ferrari had instructed Lewis Hamilton to enter the pit lane during the Virtual Safety Car, with the intention of fitting another fresh set of soft tyres that would allow him to complete the remaining distance. Instead, the seven-time world champion elected to continue, hoping that an alternative strategy might provide an opportunity to achieve more than third place.
Reflecting on the experience ahead of the United States Grand Prix, Hamilton acknowledged that difficult moments could offer valuable lessons, even after so many years competing at the highest level.
“I think, first of all, you learn from these experiences. It’s rare for me to find myself in a situation like this. I didn’t feel particularly well in the days afterwards, but you also grow through moments like these,” Lewis Hamilton explained.
The decision during the Virtual Safety Car was the culmination of a strategy that had already begun differently from that of his immediate rivals. Hamilton had chosen to start the Singapore Grand Prix on medium tyres, intending to extend his opening stint and potentially benefit from a later neutralisation.
That approach reflected his determination to pursue a more ambitious result rather than simply follow the same strategy as Charles Leclerc.
“When I lined up on the grid and knew I was starting third, I’m always thinking about how to win. I’m always trying to find something different. I wanted a different strategy, not simply the same one as Charles, with the two of us following each other around,” the British driver added.
However, the strategy simulations had indicated that Max Verstappen could possess superior pace, potentially leaving Ferrari in second and third positions if both drivers followed the more conventional approach.
“The strategy simulations had shown that Max could be faster and that strategy would have left us finishing second and third. And that’s not enough for me. I wanted to have options and see what might be possible. Maybe, if the medium tyres had lasted longer, we could have extended the first stint and played things differently. But once we were on track, it didn’t work out that way.”
Why Ferrari’s medium-tyre gamble failed to deliver in Singapore
The decision to begin on medium tyres proved increasingly difficult as the opening stint developed. As had already been suspected after Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions, the medium compound was significantly less competitive than the soft.
Lewis Hamilton struggled to match the pace of rivals who had started on the softer tyres. Attempting to remain competitive also placed considerable stress on his mediums, eventually forcing Ferrari to bring him into the pits earlier than originally planned.
That stop moved Hamilton onto a two-stop strategy, eliminating much of the flexibility he had hoped to gain by starting on the harder compound.
The contrasting tyre choices became an important factor in the race, with differences in compound performance and stint lengths influencing the options available to both Ferrari drivers. The wider tyre sequences can also be explored through the Formula 1 tyre and stint analysis.
Despite making his first stop earlier than expected, Hamilton remained behind Charles Leclerc after the pit stop cycle. Part of the gap resulted from the time lost during the opening stint, but Mercedes also played an important role by bringing Andrea Kimi Antonelli into the pits at precisely the right moment.
Had Ferrari delayed Hamilton’s stop, Leclerc would have encountered the dirty air behind his teammate, potentially allowing Antonelli to close the gap.
The circumstances left Ferrari with a difficult situation. Although Hamilton was now running on a faster tyre compound, he was effectively required to adjust his pace to match Leclerc ahead.
The seven-time world champion eventually created a gap of approximately two seconds, recognising that overtaking his teammate would have been virtually impossible under the circumstances.
“Being behind Charles cost me a lot of time. He was on a slower tyre, the same one I’d used at the start, while I had good pace on the softs. It was a situation a little similar to Zandvoort.”
The time spent behind Leclerc added another complication to a race in which Hamilton was already attempting to recover from an unsuccessful opening strategy.
The split-second Singapore decision Lewis Hamilton immediately regretted
The decisive moment came when the Virtual Safety Car offered Ferrari an opportunity to make another pit stop at a reduced time cost.
The team instructed Lewis Hamilton to enter the pit lane for a fresh set of soft tyres, but the British driver decided to continue. His decision was motivated by the possibility of pursuing a different outcome, potentially giving him an opportunity to fight for more than second place.
However, Hamilton admitted that he realised almost immediately that remaining on track had probably been the wrong choice.
“I was actually approaching the pit lane entry and I didn’t know Charles was coming in, because I think they had only just communicated his pit stop. In a split second, I decided to stay out. As soon as I was alongside the pit lane entry, I realised it had probably been the wrong decision. I took responsibility for it and carried on.”
The missed opportunity proved costly. Stopping during the Virtual Safety Car would have made third place comfortably achievable, whereas remaining on track exposed Hamilton to the consequences of continuing on tyres that would not provide the same performance advantage.
The incident had already attracted attention because of the sequence of radio communications and the circumstances surrounding Ferrari’s instructions. The communication between Carlo Santi and Lewis Hamilton before the costly Marina Bay decision subsequently became another point of discussion.
Hamilton nevertheless accepted that the decision had ultimately been his. It was a gamble that did not deliver the intended result, and he acknowledged that it had cost Ferrari points.
His explanation also provided additional context to the Singapore strategy decision that left Ferrari without another potential podium finish, highlighting the fine margins involved when drivers and teams must make immediate decisions during a neutralisation period.
Lewis Hamilton insists his job is to challenge Ferrari, not simply follow instructions
Although Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that his Singapore decision had been a mistake, he made clear that he did not intend to fundamentally change his approach to racing or working with Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion believes that drivers sometimes need to challenge conventional decisions in pursuit of a better result. Occasionally that approach produces a valuable opportunity, while on other occasions it leads to a mistake.
Hamilton explained that the incident had been discussed internally, with the focus on improving how the team communicates and works together rather than allowing the disagreement to damage existing relationships.
“We discussed it internally, trying to understand how we can work better together and collaborate more effectively. But I don’t think anything has changed in our working relationship behind the scenes. I firmly believe my job isn’t simply to always follow the established line, but to keep pushing the team and myself, challenging conventions. It’s also thanks to this approach that I’ve got to where I am today, and I have absolutely no intention of giving it up.”
His comments underline the importance he places on maintaining an independent approach, even when that involves questioning a strategy suggested by the pit wall.
The British driver also emphasised that mistakes and successes must ultimately be shared by everyone involved in the Ferrari operation.
“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. This was one of those times when it didn’t work, but you move forward. We win and lose as a team, so we share both the successes and the mistakes together. It certainly hurts when I cost the team points. It’s not something that happens often, but I’ll work even harder to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Hamilton’s willingness to accept responsibility has remained a consistent part of his explanation. He had already acknowledged his part in Ferrari’s unsuccessful Singapore tyre gamble immediately after the race, and his latest comments provide a more detailed explanation of the thinking behind the decision.
For Ferrari, the challenge is finding the right balance between Hamilton’s willingness to pursue unconventional opportunities and the need for effective coordination between the driver and the pit wall.
Ferrari brings its final major SF-26 upgrades to the United States Grand Prix
With the Singapore disappointment behind him, Lewis Hamilton is now turning his attention towards the United States Grand Prix at Austin, where Ferrari is preparing to introduce its final substantial development package of the 2026 season.
The competitive order has changed repeatedly across recent Formula 1 weekends. McLaren initially emerged as the leading force, Red Bull subsequently gained ground, and the true potential of Mercedes remains another important question.
Ferrari has also demonstrated encouraging form at circuits that place greater emphasis on chassis performance than outright engine power. At Sepang and Marina Bay, the Italian team secured two podium finishes, suggesting that the SF-26 can remain competitive under the right conditions.
The new Austin package is expected to provide a relatively modest performance gain. According to Hamilton, while maintaining the customary caution associated with discussing upgrades, the improvements should be worth slightly less than one tenth of a second.
That may not represent a dramatic increase in outright pace, but small improvements can still prove important when the leading Formula 1 teams are closely matched.
The Ferrari SF-26 upgrade package for Austin is therefore an important part of the team’s attempt to maintain its competitiveness as the season progresses.
However, the Circuit of The Americas presents a different technical challenge from the previous two venues. Austin features more extended acceleration zones, while its uneven surface demands an effective mechanical set-up to maintain stability and performance.
Finding the correct balance will be essential if Ferrari wants to make full use of its latest developments.
Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari can fight at the front in Austin
Despite the arrival of the new components, Lewis Hamilton remains cautious about predicting Ferrari’s prospects for victory at the United States Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion acknowledged that the changes in competitive performance throughout the season have made it difficult to establish which team will have the strongest package at each circuit.
“Honestly, I have no idea whether we’ll be able to win or not. If we look at how performance has developed throughout the season, there was a point when Mercedes seemed to be the benchmark, then McLaren improved, and now in the last few Grands Prix we’ve seen a fairly dominant Red Bull,” Hamilton explained.
His assessment reflects the shifting competitive picture that has characterised the championship, with different teams finding performance advantages at different stages of the year.
Although Hamilton does not expect the overall situation to change dramatically, he believes Ferrari should remain part of a closely contested battle if the SF-26 operates within its ideal performance window.
“For that reason, I don’t see any particular reason why the situation should suddenly change. However, I expect it to be very close between us all. And I hope that, if we can get the car into the right operating window, we can be there fighting for the leading positions and battling with the others.”
The United States Grand Prix will therefore provide an important opportunity to assess whether Ferrari’s latest upgrades can deliver the anticipated gains and help Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc compete more consistently against Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes.
Fans preparing to follow the weekend can find the complete 2026 United States Grand Prix schedule and Circuit of The Americas guide, including session times and relevant information about the Austin event.
For Hamilton, the immediate objective is to put the Singapore mistake behind him without abandoning the competitive mentality that led him to pursue a more ambitious strategy in the first place.
Having accepted responsibility for the points lost at Marina Bay, the seven-time world champion now wants to demonstrate that Ferrari can turn its progress into stronger results. With the latest SF-26 developments arriving at Austin and the leading teams separated by relatively small margins, the focus returns to extracting the maximum possible performance from the car.
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