Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s tyre strategy attracted plenty of attention during Sunday’s race in Malaysia, but one of the most important decisions was dictated not by preference but by Formula 1’s sporting regulations. Despite the Grand Prix being officially declared a wet race, Lewis Hamilton used only dry-weather tyres at Sepang, meaning Ferrari was still required to put him on a second dry compound.
Ferrari’s strategy with Lewis Hamilton at Sepang
There was considerable discussion surrounding the strategy adopted by Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari during the Malaysian race. Two moments came under particular scrutiny: Ferrari’s decision not to start on intermediate tyres and Lewis Hamilton’s determination to remain on used soft tyres while the circuit was drying.
The latter decision ultimately allowed the seven-time Formula 1 world champion to recover several important positions by making one fewer pit stop than some of the drivers running ahead of him. It was another example of how decisive tyre behaviour at Sepang could become as track conditions evolved.
However, there was another specific moment in Lewis Hamilton’s race that deserves closer attention. It involved both strategy and the regulations and was a detail that many viewers may have missed during the live broadcast of the Grand Prix.
Why Lewis Hamilton had to use the medium tyres
At his first pit stop, Ferrari fitted Lewis Hamilton with medium tyres. The #44 immediately described them as “terrible”, although he was still able to continue his recovery during the stint.
Lewis Hamilton later returned to his preferred soft tyres for the final stint after making his next pit stop during the race neutralisation that followed the retirement of Alex Albon’s Williams.
Some questioned why Ferrari fitted the medium compound rather than another set of soft tyres at the first stop. Under the regulations, however, Lewis Hamilton was required to complete at least one lap on the medium tyres despite the race having been declared wet.
The rule requiring drivers to use at least two different dry-weather tyre compounds during a Grand Prix is waived only when the driver actually uses one of the two wet-weather compounds: the intermediate or the full wet.
Normally, that distinction is largely irrelevant during a race officially declared wet. Lewis Hamilton’s Malaysian Grand Prix was an unusual exception because, despite Race Direction declaring a wet race, he did not use either intermediate or wet tyres at any stage.
Readers can examine the different compounds and stint patterns in greater detail through the F1 Tyre & Stint Analysis.
The F1 regulation Ferrari had to respect
In Lewis Hamilton’s specific case, the requirement to use two different dry-weather compounds therefore remained in force. Had he completed the entire Grand Prix exclusively on soft tyres, he would have faced disqualification.
Ferrari fortunately remained alert to the regulatory requirement and ensured that Lewis Hamilton fulfilled it by using the medium tyres. The relevant requirement is explicitly set out in Article B6.3.6 of the sporting regulations:
“Unless they have used intermediate or wet-weather tyres during the Race, each driver must use at least two (2) different specifications of dry-weather tyres during the Race, at least one (1) of which must be a mandatory Race dry-weather tyre specification (Article B6.1.2).”
The detail helps explain why Ferrari’s medium-tyre decision was effectively unavoidable rather than simply an alternative strategic choice. The wider context of the Malaysian weekend, including the unusual conditions at Sepang, can also be found in the 2026 Bahrain GP at Sepang guide.
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