Mercedes Acknowledges Strategic Misstep in Singapore GP Leaving Lewis Hamilton Disenchanted

Mercedes acknowledges a strategic misstep that significantly angered Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton expressed significant displeasure with Mercedes' tactical approach, resulting in his drop from third to sixth place in Singapore.

Mercedes has acknowledged that they made a mistaken strategy call regarding Lewis Hamilton's approach at the F1 Singapore Grand Prix.

Beginning from third position due to an enhanced showing in the qualifiers, Hamilton experienced an aggravating race, ultimately falling to sixth place in the Singapore Grand Prix, trailing behind his Mercedes colleague, George Russell.

The seven-time world champion expressed his frustration with Mercedes following their tactical choice to begin the race on soft tyres, leading to an unplanned early pit stop on the 17th lap.

Hamilton criticized Mercedes on the team radio for the disadvantage the strategy put him at, as he fell behind Russell. Additionally, he was at risk due to older hard tires, which allowed his soon-to-be Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc to overtake him effortlessly towards the end of the race.

After the race, Mercedes admitted to a misstep in their strategic choices for Hamilton.

"It was a truly difficult night for us," commented Mercedes leader Toto Wolff. "Finishing in fourth and sixth place, after beginning in third and fourth, is far from satisfactory."

The choices we made regarding our strategy in the competition were influenced by our previous encounters on this track, where securing a good position is key. We believed that opting for the Soft tyre would provide Lewis with a benefit during the initial phase, but this proved to be a mistake.

Facing difficulties in handling the rear sections, we experienced a setback. Surprisingly, passing other competitors was achievable, unlike past events at this venue which tended to follow a single-file pattern. Looking back, it would have been wiser to begin the race with him on Medium tires.

"However, it's clear that our pace today was insufficient. Currently, we're facing challenges on circuits that require high levels of grip and perform under hot conditions, similar to this location and Baku. Nevertheless, this shouldn't be seen as a justification. Accepting this reality is tough for us, yet it's essential that we acknowledge it and seek methods to enhance our performance."

"Our attention now shifts to Austin, where an upcoming update is anticipated to propel us forward."

Wolff revealed that Hamilton and Russell did not address the press following the race due to their near heatstroke experiences.

In statements given in Mercedes' post-event media briefing, Hamilton expressed: "It's challenging to articulate the spectrum of feelings experienced during such a tough race. The current season remains demanding for all of us, yet we're giving it our all.

Sometimes our strategies don't pan out as planned, and today was one such instance. Heading into the weekend, each choice is made with the best intentions, yet not all of them yield the desired outcomes. This can be disheartening, but it's important to remember we're in this as a united team. Recently, we've noticed a dip in our performance compared to the frontrunners and are diligently investigating the reasons behind this slip. Despite these challenges, our strength lies in our ability to unite, examine our strategies, and readjust our focus for the upcoming Austin race.

"We'll approach this with vigor, ambition, and resolve. It's yet another chance to demonstrate our capabilities when everything falls into place, and to possibly make progress with the vehicle."

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