Lewis Hamilton lost his chance at a Singapore Grand Prix podium after Ferrari opted to keep him out during a Virtual Safety Car period, leaving the seven-time world champion stranded on worn soft tyres and sliding down the order.
According to analysis published by Formula1.com, the decision by Ferrari not to pit Hamilton under the VSC was described as “a staggering call,” given that he had been the first frontrunner to stop from a medium tyre that was already underperforming early in the race.
The VSC window represented a critical opportunity. Pitting under those conditions reduces the time lost in the pit lane, giving teams a strategic advantage over rivals who remain on track. With Hamilton already carrying degraded rubber, the case for stopping was clear. “Pitting under the VSC was the opportune moment Ferrari needed to make the pit stop at a reduced cost,” the analysis noted.
Instead, Ferrari left Hamilton out, a call that proved costly. With his soft tyres continuing to deteriorate, Hamilton was unable to hold position against Kimi Antonelli and the McLarens, ultimately dropping through the field without the pace to fight back.
The analysis noted it “seemed inevitable” that Hamilton would require an additional stop regardless, making the failure to act under the VSC all the more difficult to justify in hindsight. The sequence of events underscored how a single strategic misjudgment can unravel an otherwise competitive weekend, particularly on a street circuit like Singapore where overtaking opportunities are severely limited.