Lewis Hamilton’s sixth-place finish at the Singapore Grand Prix left Ferrari with considerable regret, particularly given the strong competitiveness shown by the SF-26 at Marina Bay and the impressive form the seven-time World Champion had displayed throughout the weekend. With Charles Leclerc finishing second, Ferrari appeared to have the performance required to secure a double podium.
Instead, another costly strategic sequence ultimately left Lewis Hamilton outside the top five. On this occasion, however, the decisive choices were not simply the result of Ferrari’s pit wall, with the British driver himself taking responsibility after the race for the decision that cost him valuable points.
The strategy error was not Ferrari’s this time
The decision to start Lewis Hamilton on Medium tyres immediately raised eyebrows among Ferrari fans. On a street circuit such as Marina Bay, where overtaking is notoriously difficult, losing one or more positions through a lack of grip at the start could have proved extremely costly.
Despite those concerns, Lewis Hamilton made a good start. From there, the objective was to extend the Medium-tyre stint for as long as possible before switching to the Soft compound, which was proving significantly more durable than initially expected.
The first questionable moment came on lap 19, when Lewis Hamilton stopped relatively early. The move allowed him to rejoin in seventh place on the red-walled Soft tyres and quickly make up ground, but the timing meant it would be extremely difficult to reach the end of the race on that set.
After catching Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton asked to be allowed past the Monegasque so that he could exploit the pace advantage offered by the different tyre compound. Race engineer Carlo Santi, however, reminded him that he would need to manage the tyres if he intended to make them last until the chequered flag.
Lewis Hamilton stays out during the decisive lap-39 interruption
The second and far more damaging moment arrived on lap 39, when Lance Stroll’s retirement triggered a Safety Car. Charles Leclerc took advantage of the interruption to fit a fresh set of Soft tyres, while Ferrari was prepared to bring both cars in for a double pit stop.
Lewis Hamilton instead remained on track despite the team’s instructions. Fred Vasseur later explained Ferrari’s planned double stop and Lewis Hamilton’s pit-entry error, an episode that became decisive in the battle for the podium.
Lewis Hamilton and Fred Vasseur both referred after the race to the pit lane having been missed. However, on the radio at the end of the Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton apologised for getting “that strategy” wrong, creating some uncertainty over exactly how the decisive moment unfolded.
From there, the consequences became increasingly severe. On lap 46, Charles Leclerc comfortably passed Lewis Hamilton and set off in pursuit of race leader Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton’s tyres then continued to deteriorate until his pace collapsed in the closing stages, forcing him to surrender positions to Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Lewis Hamilton apologises after losing a potential podium
The Ferrari number 44 appeared deeply disappointed after the race and immediately apologised to his side of the garage on the cooldown lap. His comments, also covered in the Ferrari team-radio reactions from the Singapore Grand Prix, made clear that he accepted responsibility for what had happened.
“Sorry, guys, I let you down today with that strategy. It was my decision and it cost us valuable points. I’ll try to make up for it in the next race.”
Unfortunately, no further explanation of the decisions followed. Lewis Hamilton felt unwell shortly after the race and was given permission by the FIA not to attend the scheduled post-race media sessions.
The outcome was particularly painful because the pace required for another Ferrari podium appeared to be available. Instead, Charles Leclerc secured second place while Lewis Hamilton fell to sixth, turning what could have been a major points haul into a missed opportunity for the Maranello team.
Was the fight with Charles Leclerc behind the strategy decision?
Lewis Hamilton’s approach during the decisive phase of the race is difficult to explain. One possible interpretation is that he was making a desperate attempt to take second place away from teammate Charles Leclerc, particularly after gaining the tyre advantage earlier in the race.
Ferrari was ready to carry out the double pit stop, exactly as Fred Vasseur explained after the Grand Prix, and the decision not to come in ultimately rested with Lewis Hamilton. At the same time, it must be acknowledged that making a complete strategic assessment from inside a Formula 1 car is always considerably more difficult than doing so from the pit wall.
Just as Ferrari’s strategic errors have deserved criticism on other occasions, Lewis Hamilton’s decision warrants similar scrutiny this time. It is possible that the personal battle with Charles Leclerc influenced his approach and ultimately worked against the wider interests of a Ferrari team that needs every available championship point.
The wider context of that internal battle can be followed through the Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton F1 head-to-head statistics, covering their qualifying, race and championship performances across the season.
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