Hamilton’s pit stop choice cost Ferrari a podium in Singapore

Ferrari were primed for a double podium at the 62‑lap Singapore Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton started on a fresh set of Medium tyres, while teammate Charles Leclerc began on Softs. At lap 18 Hamilton opted for Softs, planning a two‑stop strategy. Instead of following the team plan, he stayed on the Soft tyres for the rest of the race, a decision that would later cost the team a podium.

The impact of the decision

Brundle criticised Hamilton, calling the move "bizarre" and pointing out that a cheap pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car had been missed. The driver struggled for 44 laps on the same Softs, losing pace and slipping from third to sixth in the final standings. Hamilton also lost fifth place to Oscar Piastri after the Australian made an unscheduled stop for a puncture. The move drew questions from fans and experts alike.

After the race, Hamilton apologized to the team via radio, admitting he had made the wrong call. He posted on social media that the decision was a painful lesson and that the result did not reflect the car’s pace. Hamilton thanked the team and fans and said he would learn from the experience and return stronger. The incident highlights the difficulty of making strategic calls from the cockpit.