Why Ferrari capitulated to Lewis Hamilton’s unsuccessful Singapore F1 wager

After the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, Ferrari's team principal Fred Vasseur faced the media, with the conversation heavily centered on Lewis Hamilton.

The majority of inquiries focused on the flawed strategy that led Hamilton to drop from third to sixth place in the Marina Bay event, as he opted to remain on track under the VSC for an extensive 44-lap stretch on soft tires.

During the last 22 laps post-neutralization, Hamilton lost an average of 2.5 seconds per lap compared to his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. Consequently, he found himself finishing sixth, trailing behind Kimi Antonelli and the McLaren drivers.

With the ailing Briton excused from his post-race media duties to seek medical attention, Vasseur was put under the spotlight by reporters eager to dissect how that decision was reached in great detail. The Frenchman appeared less than enthusiastic about the line of questioning, even interjecting during the first inquiry, indicating it wasn’t necessarily “the main event of the weekend.”

Nonetheless, Hamilton's radio message after the race indicated that he had chosen to stay out during the VSC – so what exactly transpired in that discussion?

“[It] was very clear,” Vasseur asserted. “We were P2-P3 on the track. We instructed both drivers, ‘Guys, you pit behind the VSC’. One of my crew members said, ‘No, I prefer to stay on track’. Or he didn’t phrase it that way – he said, ‘I missed the pit entry’.

“Don't hold the team accountable.”

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Vasseur, who had yet to converse with his driver, remarked that Hamilton's choice was “clearly a mistake”, reinforcing what he had previously conveyed to broadcasters.

But is it acceptable for a driver to deviate from the team's strategy, considering he lacks the same comprehensive data and overarching perspective that the engineers possess?

“In hindsight, the outcome shows it was not a wise decision,” Vasseur acknowledged. “However, you often remind us that we should heed the drivers' input since they are in the car and have a feel for their tires and other aspects.

“But in this instance, it was clear to me. Still, I must respect their instincts when they are in the car.”