Hamilton (Ferrari) slips up, boss Vasseur angry: “Are you asking McLaren the same thing?”

Even German Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher cannot understand Lewis Hamilton’s decision.

As a reminder: during a virtual safety car period at the Singapore Grand Prix, Ferrari called both drivers into the pits for fresh tyres.

Charles Leclerc did so, in an attempt to put pressure on the leader, Max Verstappen. Ultimately, the Monegasque driver finished second.

Lewis Hamilton did not do so and, with his tyres deteriorating, fell prey to Lando Norris, Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri. In the end, he could only manage 6th place.

Ralf Schumacher, acting as an F1 expert for our colleagues at Sky in Singapore, says: “That was certainly odd. On the one hand, the driver naturally feels how his tyres are performing. On the other hand, the team has the data, the experience and the lap times from the outside the whole time. As a driver, I would have tended to rely on the team in that situation.”

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Hamilton later admitted his mistake and took full responsibility for the disappointing result.

Naturally, after the night race, many of the journalists’ questions centred on the approach taken with Hamilton. Team principal Fred Vasseur reacted with irritation. The Frenchman said: “Did you ask McLaren just as many questions yesterday?” Vasseur was, of course, referring to the collision between Norris and Piastri in the Sprint.

Vasseur continued: “We were second and third on the track, and it was very clear to everyone what had happened. We called both cars into the pits, and one of them simply said, ‘I’d rather stay on the track’, or rather, he said, ‘I missed the pit entry’.’

Nevertheless, Vasseur put things into perspective: “Looking at the result, it wasn’t a good decision. But then again, you often tell us that we should listen more to the drivers, because they’re in the car; they have a feel for their tyres and so on.”

Formula 1 champion Jenson Button, formerly Hamilton’s team-mate at McLaren: “You shouldn’t read too much into it. Hamilton wanted to make a decision, and he thought it was the right one. He didn’t want to spend the rest of the Grand Prix chasing Leclerc. He wanted to try something different and knew his pace was good when he was on the soft tyres.”

“I really respect him for apologising for his mistake at the end of the race, straight after the race. And that’s also the best way to put it behind you and move on.”