Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes looks on from the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 22, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Lars Baron - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton acknowledged that opting for the soft tire strategy during the Singapore GP ultimately cost him a competitive result. In a post-race clarification via his social media handle, the Mercedes driver addressed his frustrated radio message, explaining that it was a reaction to the disappointing outcome rather than the strategy itself.
Starting third on the grid, Mercedes chose an aggressive approach by fitting Hamilton with soft tires, aiming to help him challenge Max Verstappen early in the race. However, the plan faltered as Verstappen undercut him with a pit stop for fresher tires, leaving Hamilton unable to respond. The seven-time world champion ultimately finished sixth.
After the race, Hamilton expressed frustration over the team radio, questioning the strategy. However, in a statement through his Instagram stories, Hamilton clarified that while his radio messages reflected disappointment in the moment, he had agreed to the strategy beforehand. He acknowledged that the approach was sound, but the team had miscalculated their rivals’ strategies, leading to the unfavorable result.
