---
title: "Hamilton apologises after Singapore mistake costs Ferrari double podium"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2026/10/12/hamilton-singapore-gp-error-ferrari-double-podium/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2026-10-12T06:45:34Z"
modified: "2026-10-12T06:45:35Z"
---

# Hamilton apologises after Singapore mistake costs Ferrari double podium

**Lewis Hamilton apologised to Ferrari after his decision to stay out during a Virtual Safety Car period cost him a likely podium at the Singapore Grand Prix.**

Hamilton was running third behind team-mate Charles Leclerc when Lance Stroll’s retirement brought out the VSC on lap 39. Ferrari called both drivers into the pits, but Hamilton missed the entry and decided to continue on his used soft tyres.

He eventually fell to sixth as Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri came past. It completed a disappointing turnaround for Hamilton, who had finished second in [Saturday’s Singapore Sprint](https://readmotorsport.com/2026/10/10/verstappen-wins-singapore-sprint-russell-crash-hamilton/) and then qualified third for the Grand Prix.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the team had been on course to finish second and third behind race winner Max Verstappen.

## Hamilton: It was on me

Hamilton’s race had already been shaped by Ferrari’s decision to split the strategies of its two drivers. Leclerc started second on soft tyres, while Hamilton went for mediums from third in an attempt to run longer.

It quickly became clear that the soft was the stronger tyre. Hamilton stopped on lap 19 and switched compounds, putting himself back into podium contention as the race developed.

The VSC then gave Ferrari the chance to stop both cars cheaply. Hamilton missed the entry and stayed out, hoping track position would compensate for the age of his tyres.

It did not. Antonelli went through for third before Norris and Piastri also found a way past, with Piastri’s move coming on the final lap and leaving Hamilton sixth in the [Singapore GP final classification](https://readmotorsport.com/2026/10/11/verstappen-wins-singapore-gp-leclerc-antonelli/).

Hamilton accepted responsibility over the radio after the finish.

“Sorry boys, I let you down today with that strategy,” he said. “My call and I lost us valuable points.”

In his [post-race comments published by Formula 1](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/what-the-teams-said-race-day-in-singapore-2026.3lLHolVW3aIRAl7Ohxlxf6), Hamilton described the race as a “painful lesson” and accepted responsibility for the decision.

He said Ferrari had called him in under the VSC but he missed the entry, after which he decided to stay out and defend his track position. By then, the tyres had too much mileage on them.

## Vasseur says Ferrari had second and third

Vasseur said there had been no confusion over Ferrari’s instruction when the VSC was deployed. The team wanted both cars to stop.

“We called them both to pit,” Vasseur said. “It would have been P2 and P3 because we were P2 and P3 on track. He missed the pit entry.”

Hamilton then chose to try to reach the finish without another stop. Vasseur [described the decision as a mistake](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/it-was-a-mistake-vasseur-reacts-to-hamiltons-strategy-call-that-lost-a-podium-in-singapore.7FetC3ZueATDEKBKuuy4V.7FetC3ZueATDEKBKuuy4V), although he defended Ferrari’s decision to split its strategies at the start.

With little information on tyre behaviour going into the race, Ferrari wanted to keep its options open in case a Safety Car or VSC appeared. The opportunity eventually came: Leclerc took it, and Hamilton did not.

By the chequered flag, Leclerc was second, 7.335secs behind Verstappen. Hamilton was sixth and more than 45 seconds further back.

## Ferrari lets double podium slip away

The result was particularly frustrating given how competitive Ferrari had been throughout the weekend. Hamilton and Leclerc finished second and third in the Sprint before qualifying third and second respectively for the Grand Prix, putting both cars directly behind Verstappen.

As we noted in our [Singapore GP preview](https://readmotorsport.com/2026/10/11/singapore-gp-preview-verstappen-ferrari-antonelli/), Ferrari’s two cars near the front gave it options to put Red Bull under pressure. Leclerc ultimately converted that pace into second place, while Hamilton looked set to join him on the podium until the VSC changed the race.

Hamilton was unable to speak to the media immediately afterwards after feeling unwell and being checked by the FIA medical team. His later comments left little doubt over where he felt the responsibility lay.

For Vasseur, the calculation was even simpler: “We would’ve gone for P2 and P3 today.”