Hamilton apologises to Ferrari after Singapore strategy call costs him a podium

Lewis Hamilton apologised to his Ferrari team for a strategy decision during the Singapore Grand Prix. BBC Sport and the Associated Press both reported the apology. Hamilton had been in a podium position before the decision, and it cost him that finish.

Hamilton did not take part in post-race media duties after saying he felt unwell. According to BBC Sport, he was given permission to miss the media pen. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe the nature or severity of his illness.

In a Ferrari statement quoted by BBC Sport, Hamilton said he finished sixth after losing three places in the closing laps while struggling with tyre degradation. He said he started on a new medium tyre to make a one-stop strategy work, but "the medium didn't perform as well as the soft."

According to BBC Sport, Max Verstappen won the race, his first win in Singapore. Charles Leclerc was second and Kimi Antonelli third. BBC Sport reported that Ferrari had been on course for second and third. It also reported that Hamilton apologised over team radio on the slowing-down lap, saying: "Sorry, boys. I let you down today with that strategy. My call, and I lost us valuable points."

According to BBC Sport, Hamilton made his first stop six laps before Leclerc and rejoined directly behind him. Ferrari did not swap the cars. During a mid-race virtual safety car, Ferrari called both drivers in. Leclerc pitted for soft tyres. BBC Sport said a stop under a virtual safety car saves about 10 seconds.

What is disputed

The accounts differ on why Hamilton did not pit. In the Ferrari statement, he said: "the team called me in but I missed the entry." BBC Sport quoted team principal Frederic Vasseur as saying: "Lewis didn't want to pit because he... I don't know why." BBC Sport described Hamilton as overriding the pit wall. The reports do not include the radio exchange at the moment of the call.

What each side says

In the statement, Hamilton said he takes "full responsibility" and is sorry for the points lost. Vasseur said Hamilton made the wrong call, but added: "Now it's not a drama for me that he made the wrong call." He said keeping Leclerc ahead earlier was right because of Leclerc's tyre advantage.

The championship

According to BBC Sport, Antonelli, 20, leads team-mate George Russell by 102 points and Hamilton by 111. Russell finished ninth from the back of the grid. BBC Sport said Antonelli will clinch the title if he wins in Austin on 25 October, with Russell ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower. He would be the youngest champion in Formula 1 history. Antonelli said: "This weekend I haven't particularly driven that well."

BBC Sport reported that F1 is keeping races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi despite the war in the Middle East. If they were cancelled, the season would end at Imola on 6 December.

Analysis

The episode raises questions about communication between Hamilton and the Ferrari pit wall, as the driver and team principal give different accounts of the missed stop. Vasseur's comments suggest the team is not treating it as a major issue, though the reports do not describe any internal review. For the title, Antonelli's lead is large, but BBC Sport's figures depend on how many races remain, which is uncertain. A cancelled Middle East double-header could change the arithmetic. Most race and standings details come from a single outlet, BBC Sport, so further reporting may refine them.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.