Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble

Following Formula 1’s Singapore Grand Prix, the focus of media scrutiny fell on Lewis Hamilton, the team principal of Ferrari, Fred Vasseur, addressed journalists about the unsuccessful strategy that saw Hamilton slip from third to sixth in the race. Hamilton had stayed out under the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) for a record 44-lap stint on soft tyres, eventually ending up sixth behind Kimi Antonelli and the McLarens.

During the post-race debrief, Vasseur dismissed Hamilton's decision to stay on track following the VSC, stating it was "clearly a mistake." He acknowledged the driver's experience on the car but insisted that the outcome was not a good call. Vasseur also admitted that while listening to drivers is important, in this particular case, it was clear that Hamilton's decision was not beneficial.

Lewis Hamilton, in a statement released by Ferrari, described the setback as a "painful lesson," acknowledging that he should have chosen a different strategy for the race, as the medium tyre did not perform as well as the soft tyre. Hamilton took full responsibility for his decision, accepting that not every call will work out, and apologized for the points lost.