Photo via Crash.net

Lewis Hamilton’s 'bizarre' Singapore strategy under scrutiny from Martin Brundle

Lewis Hamilton’s Singapore Grand Prix ended in disappointment after a self-directed strategy left him six laps behind the podium. The seven-time champion ignored Ferrari’s instructions to pit under a virtual safety car, opting instead for a high-risk one-stop approach that saw him complete 44 laps on soft tires.

Despite starting third and appearing on track for a podium, Hamilton’s gamble unraveled as he dropped positions to finish sixth, overtaken by teammates Charles Leclerc and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, as well as McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The misstep came after Hamilton had struggled with medium tires early in the race, pitting as early as Lap 18 for soft compounds—a decision that Ferrari had not anticipated would be finalized without team input.

Post-race, Hamilton publicly apologized to Ferrari for ‘letting down’ the team, acknowledging the ‘painful lesson’ of taking full responsibility for the strategy call. His social media statement reflected on the race’s challenges, noting that while the result did not match the car’s pace, the experience would inform future decisions.

Ferrari had expected Hamilton to follow the planned two-stop strategy, including the VSC pit stop, but his independent choice ultimately cost him a strong finish in Singapore’s high-speed, overtaking-resistant conditions.

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