News Summary
- Hamilton said he realised almost immediately that staying out under the Virtual Safety Car in Singapore was probably a mistake, a decision that cost him a potential podium.
- The seven-time world champion explained that he deliberately chose a different starting tyre strategy from Charles Leclerc because finishing second and third was not enough for him.
- Hamilton revealed that he and Ferrari have held discussions about improving their collaboration, but insisted he will continue questioning conventional strategic decisions.
Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he realised he had probably made the wrong decision almost immediately after choosing not to enter the pits during the Virtual Safety Car at the Singapore Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver admitted that the mistake cost the team valuable points but insisted he will continue challenging strategic decisions rather than simply following the conventional approach.
Speaking during Thursday’s press conference ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Hamilton explained his thinking before and during the Singapore race, where he started third but finished sixth after attempting to complete a one-stop strategy.
The seven-time world champion also confirmed that he and Ferrari have discussed how to improve their collaboration following the incident, which prompted an apology from Hamilton after the chequered flag.
Hamilton acknowledged that the disappointment was compounded by feeling unwell after the race. He required medical attention and was excused from his usual post-race media commitments.
“I think, well, first you learn from these experiences. So it’s rare that I find myself in that position. Of course, the next couple of days didn’t feel so great. But you live and you learn,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton explains why he rejected same strategy as Leclerc in Singapore
Hamilton started the Singapore Grand Prix on medium tyres, while teammate Charles Leclerc adopted a different approach on softs. Both Ferrari drivers lined up behind polesitter Max Verstappen, with Leclerc second and Hamilton third.
The Briton explained that his decision was motivated by his determination to challenge for victory rather than simply follow the other Ferrari home.
Ferrari’s pre-race calculations suggested Verstappen could have enough pace to win, leaving the team in second and third. Hamilton therefore wanted to create an alternative strategic opportunity by extending his opening stint on mediums.
“When I was lining up on grid, when I knew I was going to be third, I’m always looking at ways to win. I’m always looking at doing potentially something different,” Hamilton explained.
He added that he did not want to follow exactly the same strategy as Leclerc, because the projected result would have left both Ferrari drivers behind Verstappen.
“And that’s not enough for me,” he said.
Hamilton hoped the medium tyres would remain competitive long enough to extend his first stint and potentially take advantage of a later safety-car intervention or a different race situation.
However, the compound did not deliver the performance he expected. He struggled during the opening stint and stopped after 19 laps to switch to soft tyres.
The change improved his pace, but it also placed him in a difficult position relative to Leclerc, who had followed a different tyre sequence.
Hamilton explained that he subsequently lost time behind his teammate while running on the faster compound, recalling similarities with an earlier strategic situation at Zandvoort.
Hamilton admits he knew staying out under VSC was probably wrong
The decisive moment came when the Virtual Safety Car was deployed later in the race.
Ferrari intended to bring both drivers into the pits, giving them fresher tyres for the closing stages. Leclerc stopped, but Hamilton remained on track.
Team principal Frédéric Vasseur subsequently explained that Ferrari had instructed both cars to pit and considered Hamilton’s decision a mistake that cost the team a potential double podium.
During Thursday’s press conference, Hamilton provided further details about what happened as he approached the pit-lane entrance.
He said he had not realised Leclerc was coming into the pits and had only a fraction of a second to decide whether to stop.
“In a split second decision, I decided to stay out,” Hamilton admitted.
The Ferrari driver explained that he recognised the likely consequences almost immediately after committing to the pit straight.
“As soon as I was alongside the pit lane, I realised it’s probably the wrong decision,” he added.
Hamilton remained on increasingly worn soft tyres while Leclerc benefited from his stop. The seven-time champion subsequently lost positions to Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, eventually finishing sixth.
Leclerc took second place behind Verstappen, while Ferrari missed the opportunity to secure both cars on the podium.
Hamilton apologised to the team after the race, accepting responsibility for a decision that had cost valuable championship points.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported after the Singapore Grand Prix, Vasseur confirmed that both drivers had been instructed to stop during the Virtual Safety Car.
Hamilton reveals Ferrari discussions but refuses to stop challenging team
Hamilton confirmed that he has since held discussions with Ferrari about the incident and how similar situations can be handled more effectively.
The British driver said the conversations focused on improving collaboration rather than changing the fundamental relationship between the driver and his engineers.
“We’ve had good conversations in the background of how we can do better together, how we can collaborate better,” Hamilton said.
He also rejected the suggestion that the mistake should discourage him from taking an active role in strategic decisions in the future.
Hamilton explained that questioning the team and looking for different solutions have been important parts of his approach throughout his Formula 1 career.
“I truly believe my job is rather than to follow suit always, it’s to continuously challenge the team and myself,” he explained.
The Briton acknowledged that taking calculated risks can sometimes produce disappointing results, but maintained that his responsibility is to continue searching for opportunities to improve performance.
“And I will not shy away from that,” Hamilton added.
He also stressed that Ferrari’s drivers and engineers must share responsibility for both successful and unsuccessful decisions, rather than treating the Singapore incident as an individual failure disconnected from the team’s overall performance.
The comments follow a series of discussions about Ferrari’s race management during the 2026 season, including differing strategies between Hamilton and Leclerc.
Those difficulties were previously examined in the analysis of Ferrari’s strategic disagreements involving Hamilton and Leclerc.
Hamilton promises to redouble efforts after losing points for Ferrari
Hamilton finished sixth in Singapore while Leclerc secured second place. Ferrari team principal Vasseur said after the race that the decision not to pit had probably cost the British driver a podium.
The seven-time champion acknowledged the disappointment of losing points for the team, particularly given the work required from the engineers and mechanics throughout the weekend.
Hamilton emphasised that mistakes of this nature are unusual for him and that he wants to avoid repeating the situation.
“It definitely hurts when I lose points for the team. It’s not something I do very often,” he said.
He also promised to increase his efforts to prevent similar errors in the remaining races.
“But I’ll work, I’ll double the efforts to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” Hamilton added.
Ferrari arrives in Austin with an updated aerodynamic package as Hamilton and Leclerc attempt to recover ground against Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren.
The team will evaluate its latest developments during Friday’s practice sessions before qualifying on Saturday and the Grand Prix on Sunday.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
