Fred Vasseur conceded that Lewis Hamilton made a “mistake” in his choice to remain out underneath the Digital Security Automotive in the course of the Singapore Grand Prix, with the Ferrari Workforce Principal explaining that the split-second name price the Briton a podium.
Hamilton led Leclerc in a 2-3 end within the Singapore Dash earlier than the duo swapped locations in Qualifying, establishing an ideal alternative for Ferrari to divide their methods and problem Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen for victory.
Whereas Leclerc loved a powerful opening stint on the grippier delicate tyres, Hamilton struggled for tempo on his mediums and pitted simply 19 laps in, shifting again into the highest three because the race progressed.
Leclerc had sufficient of a margin to modify out his tyres and stay forward of his crew mate, which the 41-year-old was not finest happy about as he was instructed to again off and handle his degradation.
Nonetheless, when the prospect arose to pit once more underneath the Digital Security Automotive, Hamilton rejected Ferrari’s supply of a double stack and opted to proceed on his ageing tyres as an alternative of following his crew mate in.
That left him weak as his tempo continued to fall away over the ultimate laps, and it didn’t take lengthy for Kimi Antonelli and the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to all energy previous, demoting him to P6 on the chequered flag.
“The decision was to pit [two drivers at the VSC] and Lewis determined to remain on monitor,” Vasseur confirmed to F1 TV after the race.
“I believe it was a mistake total – we might’ve gone for P2 and P3 immediately. He apologised on the in-lap for the technique. We requested him to name and he didn’t.”
“Sorry boys, I allow you to down with that technique,” was Hamilton’s message to his crew after he dropped down the order and missed out on what would’ve been his seventh Grand Prix podium of the season.
Talking to Sky Sports activities F1, Vasseur elaborated: “We stored the door open for the 2 choices relying on a VSC and so forth – that was the case.
“We referred to as them each to pit – it might have been P2 and P3 as a result of we had been P2 and P3 on monitor. He missed the pit entry. Actually, it’s a little bit of a disgrace as a result of he misplaced a podium too.
“He was crystal clear on the radio. Now let’s be centered on Austin. The efficiency this weekend was okay. We’ve to be centered on the long run.”
