Hamilton explains Singapore pit call he ignored and defends questioning Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton has given his fullest explanation yet of the Singapore decision that cost him a podium. Speaking in Austin before the United States Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver said he did not realise Charles Leclerc was pitting ahead of him. He also defended his habit of questioning team instructions, even though this time it went wrong.

What happened at Marina Bay

Hamilton was running in the podium places in Singapore when a Virtual Safety Car was called on lap 39, after Lance Stroll stopped on track. Ferrari called both cars in for fresh tyres.

Leclerc pitted. Hamilton did not. He stayed out on tyres he had fitted on lap 19, which meant a 44-lap stint. His pace dropped away late in the race and he was passed by Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. He finished sixth, while Leclerc finished second behind winner Max Verstappen.

Hamilton apologised to the team on the radio and later said the result was on him. He was unwell after the race and was excused from media duties.

The team's view

Team principal Fred Vasseur was clear that Ferrari's call had been correct. He said the message on the radio had been crystal clear and told reporters not to blame the team. Ferrari had been unsure Hamilton's tyres would last to the end, which is why both cars were called in. Vasseur said that if both had stopped, Ferrari would probably have finished second and third.

Hamilton's first written statement said he had missed the pit entry and stayed out to keep track position.

Hamilton's explanation in Austin

According to The Race, Hamilton said in Austin that he had not realised Leclerc was pitting ahead of him. He described it as a split-second decision to stay out, and said he quickly realised it was the wrong call.

He did not apologise for questioning the team in general. He said challenging instructions has worked for him in the past. This time, he admitted, it did not go well.

Why it matters now

The points lost in Singapore matter in the fight for second in the championship. After Singapore, Hamilton is third on 229 points. George Russell is second on 238, nine points ahead. Max Verstappen is fourth on 221 and Leclerc fifth on 215. Kimi Antonelli leads on 340.

Ferrari are second in the constructors' standings with 444 points. They have a floor update in Austin, though Hamilton has said it is worth less than a tenth of a second per lap.

In Malaysia time, final practice is at 1.30am on Sunday, qualifying at 5am on Sunday, and the race at 4am on Monday 26 October.

Key takeaways

• Hamilton stayed out under a lap-39 Virtual Safety Car in Singapore when Ferrari called both cars in.
• He fell from the podium places to sixth after a 44-lap stint on old tyres.
• In Austin he said he did not realise Leclerc was pitting and made a split-second call.
• He defended challenging team instructions but admitted it did not work this time.
• He is third in the standings, nine points behind George Russell.

FAQ

Why did Hamilton not pit in Singapore? He first said he missed the pit entry. In Austin he added that he did not realise Leclerc was pitting and made a split-second decision to stay out.

Did Ferrari blame Hamilton? Fred Vasseur said the team's instruction had been clear and called the outcome a mistake, but he also said driver feedback matters in strategy calls.

Where is Hamilton in the championship? He is third with 229 points after Singapore, nine behind George Russell and eight ahead of Max Verstappen.

Sources: The Race, Reuters via The Star, GPblog, Racer, Crash.net