Lewis Hamilton reveals error over Ferrari disaster in Singapore GP

Lewis Hamilton has taken responsibility for the odd Ferrari strategy in the Singapore Grand Prix that left him badly exposed as he fell away to sixth place.

Hamilton started on the medium tyres at Marina Bay, whilst the front-row pair of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc opted for softs, as Hamilton tried to create some strategic variance to the Red Bull. 

In the opening laps, he was able to latch onto both cars ahead, but gradually fell away and became a bottle-neck for those behind, including Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri.

With the soft tyres emerging as the favoured race tyre, Hamilton pitted at the end of Lap 18 for his soft tyres, facing either a two-stop strategy or 44 laps on the soft tyres.

He initially cycled to second after a VSC, but Leclerc quickly passed the sister SF-26 after stopping under it, with Hamilton declaring that he wanted to try to go to the end in a bid to save a strong result. 

Ultimately, Hamilton's tyres fell off the cliff, and he was passed by Antonelli, Norris, and Piastri in the closing laps as he fell to sixth place in the final results - his equal worst finish of the season, and third time in his last four finishes that he has taken the place following Italy and Azerbaijan, with a third in Sepang and a DNF in Spain.

On the cooldown lap, Hamilton took responsibility for the issue. 

"Sorry, boys," Hamilton began.

"I let you down today with that strategy. 

"[It was] my call, and I lost us valuable points. I'll try to make up for it in the next one. 

"Great job with the pit-stop, though. 

Hamilton's engineer Carlo Santi then replied to acknowledge the message.

"Understood, thank you, Lewis."