Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has hit back at questions over the team’s handling of Lewis Hamilton’s costly strategy call at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Hamilton dropped from a likely podium finish to sixth after missing the pit entry when Ferrari called both cars in during a late Virtual Safety Car period.
The seven-time world champion chose to continue on ageing soft tyres, but was subsequently passed by Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Hamilton has already accepted responsibility for the decision, but Vasseur was pressed after the race on whether Ferrari should have done more to bring him in.
Vasseur: ‘Don’t blame the team’
“Did you ask so many questions to McLaren yesterday?” Vasseur said when questioned about Ferrari’s role in the decision.
The Ferrari boss stressed that both drivers had been called in when the VSC was deployed. Leclerc stopped, while Hamilton missed the pit entry and stayed out.
“Don’t blame the team,” Vasseur added, pointing to Hamilton’s radio apology after the race.
Vasseur also clarified that Hamilton did not subsequently ignore another instruction to pit. Ferrari instead monitored whether he could reach the finish on his existing tyres once the initial opportunity had been missed. Speaking to Formula 1, Vasseur said Ferrari had been on course for second and third before the decision.
Hamilton later described the outcome as a “painful lesson”, having apologised over team radio for losing Ferrari valuable points. Leclerc eventually finished second behind Max Verstappen, while Hamilton’s fading tyres left him sixth.
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