Hamilton takes responsibility for Singapore strategy gamble after sixth-place finish

A tyre gamble dropped Lewis Hamilton from third to sixth at the Singapore Grand Prix. In a statement Ferrari issued after the race, he accepted responsibility and called the outcome a “painful lesson”.

Hamilton said overtaking was difficult at Marina Bay, so he chose a new medium set and aimed to run long enough to make one stop work. He said the medium did not perform as well as the soft. On lap 18 he switched to used softs under Ferrari’s Plan C, a two-stop strategy. He described his second stint as good and said the pace had returned, but he could not make the progress he needed.

During the virtual safety car for Lance Stroll’s stopped Aston Martin, Ferrari called him in, but Hamilton missed the pit entry. He then chose to stay out and hold track position, leaving the soft tyres to last 44 laps.

Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris passed him in the closing stages. Oscar Piastri closed on him for fifth on the penultimate lap. Hamilton said he was struggling badly with tyre degradation and lost three places overall.

Hamilton felt unwell after the race and, following a medical check, received FIA permission to miss the usual written media pen. In the statement, he said sixth place did not reflect the car’s pace and apologised to Ferrari for the points lost.