Hamilton stays out under Virtual Safety Car, falls to sixth in Singapore

During a Virtual Safety Car in Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton stayed on older tyres while Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc pitted. As Hamilton’s pace faded over the closing laps, Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri passed him, leaving him sixth.

Hamilton struggled for pace on the medium tyres, pitted after 19 laps and later returned to the top three. After the race, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the team had called both drivers in under the VSC. Vasseur told F1 TV that Hamilton had decided to stay on track; speaking to Sky Sports F1, he said Hamilton had missed the pit entry. Vasseur called the decision a mistake and said Ferrari would have finished second and third if both cars had pitted, as they were running in those positions on track.

In his post-race Formula 1 analysis, Michael Lamonato described Hamilton as part of Ferrari’s effort to challenge Max Verstappen. He wrote that Singapore’s slow street circuit reduced Ferrari’s straight-line-speed weakness and highlighted its chassis performance; the team had pace to contend for pole. He also said Hamilton’s sixth place put title leader Kimi Antonelli on the brink of his maiden championship.