Hamilton apologises to Ferrari after Singapore strategy gamble leaves him sixth

Lewis Hamilton apologised to Ferrari after a decision to stay on track during the Singapore Grand Prix left him sixth, costing the team a potential double podium. BBC Sport reported that Ferrari had been on course to finish second and third with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton before the seven-time champion lost three positions as his tyres deteriorated late in the race.

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Hamilton accepted responsibility in a radio message after the finish and in a statement released by Ferrari. He said the team had called him into the pits during a virtual safety car, but he missed the entry. He then chose to continue in an attempt to protect his track position. Leclerc made the stop and went on to finish second behind Max Verstappen.

The decision followed an earlier change to Hamilton’s intended strategy. He had started on a new set of medium-compound tyres, aiming to extend the opening stint and complete the race with one stop. Those tyres did not perform as well as the soft compound, forcing him to pit earlier than planned. Although his pace improved during the second stint, he said he could not make the progress he needed.

Hamilton’s first stop came six laps before Leclerc’s. When Leclerc returned to the track, Hamilton was close behind and initially quicker, but Ferrari kept the running order unchanged. Team principal Frederic Vasseur explained that Leclerc had the tyre advantage because of his later stop. Vasseur also confirmed that the team had asked both drivers to pit during the virtual safety car and treated Hamilton’s eventual apology as recognition of a mistaken call.

Kimi Antonelli finished third for Mercedes, increasing his championship advantage to 102 points over team-mate George Russell and 111 over Hamilton. Russell finished ninth after starting at the back of the grid. BBC Sport reported that Antonelli could secure his first world title at the next race in Austin, depending on the results, while noting uncertainty about the remaining calendar. Antonelli stressed that he still needed to concentrate on his own performance.

Verstappen’s victory was his first Singapore Grand Prix win and his second consecutive race victory. He credited a more predictable car for Red Bull’s improvement but stopped short of promising the same competitiveness in Austin. Hamilton, meanwhile, said he would continue working to recover from the points lost in Singapore.