Vasseur says Hamilton’s VSC call cost Ferrari a Singapore podium
Lewis Hamilton finished sixth at the Singapore Grand Prix after choosing to stay on track during a Virtual Safety Car period, a decision Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said cost the Briton a podium opportunity.
Ferrari had been running second and third, and Vasseur said the team called both drivers in when the VSC offered a chance to stop. Hamilton stayed out on his ageing tyres rather than joining Charles Leclerc in the pit lane. Vasseur said a double stop would have left the pair in second and third.
Hamilton’s race unravelled on worn tyres
Earlier, Ferrari had split its approach: Leclerc started on the softer tyres and enjoyed a strong opening stint, while Hamilton struggled for pace on the mediums. Hamilton made his first stop after 19 laps and worked his way back into the top three as the race developed.
Leclerc had enough of a gap to pit and remain ahead of his team-mate. Hamilton was unhappy when instructed to manage tyre degradation, but the later VSC presented another strategic opportunity for Ferrari to bring both cars in.
Hamilton’s decision to continue left him exposed as his pace faded in the closing stages. Kimi Antonelli, then McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, passed him before the finish, dropping him to sixth. The result denied him what would have been his seventh Grand Prix podium of the season.
Vasseur said Hamilton acknowledged the strategy call to the team after the race. The team principal described the choice as a mistake and said Hamilton had missed out on a podium. Hamilton also apologised to the crew over the radio.
Ferrari turns its attention to Austin
Vasseur said Ferrari had kept both pit-stop options open depending on whether a VSC occurred, and that the team’s call was for both drivers to stop. He called the lost result a shame, but said the team should now focus on Austin. He also characterised Ferrari’s overall performance in Singapore as okay.
The episode adds another pivotal moment to Hamilton’s 2026 campaign with Ferrari. Read more about Hamilton’s 2026 redemption prospects, and about Vasseur’s relationship with Leclerc, the team-mate involved in Ferrari’s split strategy at Marina Bay.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.