The Singapore Grand Prix was marked by significant debate about Ferrari’s strategy, after Lewis Hamilton lost three positions during the race, finishing in sixth place. Hamilton had started from third position and, in a controversial move, opted to stay on track during the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period, completing 44 laps on soft tires.
In the final laps, Hamilton lost time considerably, averaging 2.5 seconds per lap compared to his teammate, Charles Leclerc. This failed strategy caused him to drop behind drivers like Kimi Antonelli and those from McLaren.
After the race, Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, faced questions from the media about the strategic decision. Vasseur acknowledged that, although Hamilton’s decision not to pit was a mistake, the communication with him was clear before the VSC. “We asked the drivers to pit. One of my engineers told me he preferred to stay on track. Or maybe he didn’t say it exactly like that, he just commented that he had missed the pit entry,” Vasseur stated.
Hamilton, who could not participate in the press conference due to feeling unwell, later issued a statement to communicate his responsibility in the unpleasant situation. After the race, he admitted: “Today was not the result we expected and the responsibility is mine. At a circuit where it is difficult to overtake, you have to do something different. I was convinced that the medium tire could work, but it wasn’t the case.”
Despite having good pace in the second half of the race, Hamilton could not advance and ended up losing positions. With a feeling of disappointment, he added: “A painful lesson today, but I accept responsibility for the decisions I have made and I will sit down to work harder for the next Grand Prix.”
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
