Vasseur calls Hamilton’s VSC decision in Singapore a “mistake” after podium slipped away

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur said that Lewis Hamilton’s decision-making under the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was the key moment that turned what Ferrari believed was a podium opportunity into a sixth-place finish at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Vasseur explained that Hamilton made a “mistake” when he opted to remain on track during the VSC rather than pit when Ferrari presented a two-car strategy. According to Vasseur, the team’s intent was for Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to pit together—an approach that would have maintained Ferrari’s advantage and delivered a P2-and-P3 result based on their track position at the time. “The call was to pit [two drivers at the VSC] and Lewis decided to stay on track,” Vasseur said after the race.

The Singapore result followed a strong start to Ferrari’s weekend. Hamilton and Leclerc had finished in a 2-3 order in the Singapore Sprint, then swapped places in Qualifying, setting up the scenario where Ferrari could split strategies and challenge Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for victory.

Race pace and tyre management determined the shape of the final run. Leclerc benefited from grip on the softer tyres early, while Hamilton struggled for pace on the medium compound. Hamilton pitted after only 19 laps, rejoining the fight in the top three as the race progressed, with Leclerc retaining enough margin to pit again and stay ahead of his teammate.

Ferrari then instructed Hamilton to manage degradation, but the decisive moment arrived when another opportunity to pit presented itself under the VSC. Vasseur said Ferrari offered a double-stack option and that Hamilton rejected it, continuing on tyres that were described as “aging.” As Hamilton’s pace fell away over the closing laps, the race order changed quickly.

At the chequered flag, Hamilton was demoted to P6 as Kimi Antonelli and both McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri powered past in the closing stages. Hamilton later acknowledged his role in the outcome, sending a message to his team after dropping down the order: “Sorry boys, I let you down with that strategy,”—a note Ferrari cited alongside Vasseur’s post-race explanation.

Vasseur said that, had Hamilton followed the team’s call, Ferrari expected to secure a podium. “I think it was a mistake overall – we would’ve gone for P2 and P3 today,” he said, adding that Hamilton’s radio communication was clear on what was required and that Ferrari ultimately “called them both to pit.” He concluded by shifting focus to the next challenge, saying Ferrari would now be focused on the future and the next race.

Earlier results from Hamilton’s season context were not treated by Vasseur as determinative; instead, he framed the Singapore outcome as a controllable error in execution. Hamilton’s apology on the in-lap and Vasseur’s assessment were presented as direct reflections of that strategic decision rather than broader performance conclusions from the weekend.