Lewis Hamilton has explained why he overrode Ferrari's call to pit during the Singapore Grand Prix, a mistake he says he owned up to and will work not to repeat. He insists it will not stop him from continuing to challenge the norms.
Hamilton dropped from the podium positions to sixth on worn tyres in the closing stages of the race at Marina Bay. He chose not to pit under the Virtual Safety Car, as the Ferrari pit wall had requested. Feeling unwell after the gruelling night race, and excused from his post-race media duties by the FIA, Hamilton had initially commented only through a team statement and a post on Instagram, where he took responsibility for the strategy going wrong.
Speaking in person for the first time at Thursday's press conference in Austin, ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, Hamilton explained that he deliberately started on the mediums rather than following team-mate Charles Leclerc. "You learn from these experiences," he said. "I'm always looking at ways to win." He added that he wanted options rather than simply finishing second and third behind Max Verstappen.
The approach backfired when he struggled in the first stint and then lost significant time behind Leclerc on the slower tyre. Hamilton compared the situation to his difficult race at Zandvoort.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing