Lewis Hamilton demands Ferrari change after latest qualifying 'disappointment'

Lewis Hamilton wants his Ferrari team to change its strategy in Formula 1 qualifying, which he believes is costing the team places on the grid. 

Hamilton qualified in sixth for the Singapore Grand Prix, out-qualifying team-mate Charles Leclerc, but finishing behind both cars from Mercedes and McLaren, as well as Max Verstappen. 

One factor which is dominating current F1 is the fact that drivers back up in the pit-lane at the start of each qualifying segment to create gaps of free air around the circuit, with the introduction of the maximum delta time in 2023 to prevent dangerous closing speeds between cars on flying laps and those either preparing for one or on cool down laps.

With Ferrari at the far end of the pit-lane from the pit-exit, the Scuderia is often forced to queue behind other cars to get on track, with Hamilton believing this is costing precious tyre temperature, affecting Ferrari's overall result.

"The car has been feeling good, generally most of the weekend, and ultimately, I'm disappointed with that result," Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365.

 "Since Q1, the car was feeling good, the tyres were feeling good, and then when we get into Q2, run one was decent, but we are last in the queue often, and then we're waiting in the queue and losing a lot of temperature in the tyres.

"Every time we do that, we're just falling further and further back. It happens every weekend, and we're losing so much temperature, like five or six degrees, and it is really hard to gain that back in the out-lap without using the tyre so much. 

"The guys on pole, they went quicker without waiting in the pit-lane, so I think that is something we can improve on for sure.

"Everyone is trying so hard, but it is definitely disappointing to finish where we are, when there was potential to be higher, but I'll be on my toes and ready to capitalise on any opportunities."

When then questioned if he preferred the old system of cars backing up into the final corner to create the necessary gaps, Hamilton indicated that he did. 

"I said in the drivers' briefing before, I thought it was better before," he summed up, before adding, "many of the rules have changed."