Hamilton takes responsibility for Singapore strategy call ahead of US GP

Lewis Hamilton took responsibility ahead of the United States Grand Prix for the Singapore call not to pit under a Virtual Safety Car, which left him sixth after he had been on course for third and cost Ferrari a double podium. Speaking at Thursday’s media day in Austin, he said he knew the choice was probably wrong as soon as he was alongside the pit lane.

Hamilton said he wanted a tyre strategy different from Charles Leclerc’s rather than have Ferrari’s drivers simply follow one another. He described an alternative strategy from the outset as his best chance of beating Max Verstappen. Hamilton said the assumption was that Verstappen might be quicker and that the simulation projected Ferrari’s drivers second and third. He said that result was not enough for him: he wanted options.

He said he and Ferrari had discussed how to work and collaborate better, but added that nothing had changed in how well they worked together. Hamilton said he would keep challenging the team, himself and established norms, while acknowledging that such calls do not always go well.

Hamilton said he and Ferrari carry the consequences together when a decision goes wrong. Losing points for the team hurt, he said, and he pledged to double his efforts to prevent a repeat.