Hamilton takes full responsibility after costly Singapore strategy gamble

Lewis Hamilton has used social media to reinforce his apology to Ferrari following what he described as a

painful lesson

at the Singapore Grand Prix, acknowledging that his decision to stay out during a Virtual Safety Car period cost the team dearly.

The seven-time world champion made an unilateral call to forgo fresh rubber when the VSC was triggered, a decision that left him exposed in the final laps at Marina Bay. According to ESPN, Hamilton had started on medium tyres, pitted on lap 18 for softs, then completed a 44-lap stint on that set after missing the pit entry during the VSC.

The consequences were immediate and damaging. Charles Leclerc capitalised by pitting when the VSC came out, gaining track position. Hamilton then found himself passed by Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, followed by McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, ultimately dropping to sixth place.

Hamilton skipped his post-race media commitments, citing physical discomfort from the extreme heat, but released a statement through Ferrari on Sunday. On Monday, he posted a more detailed reflection on Instagram, taking complete ownership of the miscalculation.

Yesterday wasn't the result we were looking for, and that's on me. At a track that's difficult to overtake, you need to try something different and I chose a strategy that ultimately didn't deliver,

he wrote.

It's a painful lesson to learn, but I take full responsibility for the decisions I made. In this sport, not every call will work out. It's about accepting when you get it wrong and how you move forward.

He continued:

I'm grateful to the team for the work they put in every weekend. P6 doesn't reflect the pace we had in the car over the weekend, and despite the result there are positives to take away.

Massive thanks to the fans in Singapore for the energy. I'll continue to put the work in and come back fighting at the next race.

Vasseur defends Hamilton but acknowledges error

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur was pressed repeatedly on Hamilton's tactical choice and moved quickly to shield the driver from blame, even as he conceded the decision had backfired. According to ESPN, Vasseur noted that a pit stop under the VSC would have left Ferrari second and third on track, underlining the strategic stakes involved.

It was clearly a mistake when you see the outcome, it was not a good call,

Vasseur said.

But, on the other hand, quite often you have to listen to the drivers because they are in the car and have the feeling with the tyres but for this one it is clear for me. But I respect their feeling in the car.

The VSC was triggered when Lance Stroll's Aston Martin required clearance from the circuit, creating the window in which Hamilton's choice would prove pivotal. The moment represented a critical juncture in a race where Ferrari had harboured genuine ambitions of challenging Max Verstappen for victory.

Leclerc mounted an aggressive early assault on the Red Bull driver, nearly drawing level into Turn 1 before being forced to yield. He maintained pressure during the opening phase of the race before gradually losing ground, ultimately finishing seven seconds adrift of Verstappen.

Competitive landscape tightens

Vasseur acknowledged that Ferrari had

struggled more

than Red Bull when navigating traffic, yet stressed that the sport's top four teams remain tightly bunched on pace. The Ferrari boss outlined the volatile nature of the current championship battle, where incremental upgrades can shuffle the order dramatically.

Red Bull are doing well. But we have to fight with McLaren and Mercedes as well,

he explained.

At the beginning of the season Mercedes were flying, then McLaren won two or three races, then Red Bull won two or three races. We have four teams in less than two tenths. If someone brings an upgrade, the classification can change. The most important is to focus on yourselves.

The Singapore result carries additional weight for Hamilton, who now trails George Russell by nine points in the drivers' championship, leaving minimal margin for further costly errors as the season enters its final stretch.

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has since weighed in on the controversy, describing Hamilton's approach as

bizarre

and questioning the strategic logic behind the decision.

Next race and championship implications

Formula 1 now shifts focus to the Americas for a triple-header sequence. The United States Grand Prix at Austin is scheduled for October 23–25, 2026, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The race offers Hamilton an immediate opportunity to demonstrate recovery and rebuild momentum as the championship battle intensifies.