Hamilton’s costly gamble puts Antonelli on brink of F1 title

Lewis Hamilton has apologised to Ferrari after a strategy decision at Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix cost him a podium finish, dropping him to sixth place as Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli moved closer to securing the Formula One world championship.

Hamilton, who started third, was in contention for a podium for much of the race.

However, a virtual safety car period proved decisive when Ferrari called both drivers in to change tyres.

Charles Leclerc stopped, but Hamilton missed the pit entry, which Reuters said cost the team a double podium. Hamilton then chose to stay out and attempt to hold his track position until the finish.

Accounts of the episode differ in emphasis, but Hamilton apparently overrode the pit wall and chose his own strategy. According to the news service, he missed the pit entry.

Hamilton subsequently told the team over the radio that he had let them down, that the decision had been his own and that it had cost valuable points. He said he would try to make up for it at the next race.

His tyres faded in the closing laps, allowing Leclerc, Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to pass him.

Max Verstappen won the race, claiming his first Singapore Grand Prix victory, with Leclerc finishing second and Antonelli third.

Ferrari left Singapore with 26 points, comprising 18 for Leclerc and eight for Hamilton. Antonelli’s championship lead over Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who finished ninth after starting from the back of the grid, stretched to 102 points. His advantage over Hamilton increased to 111 points.

Antonelli needs to leave the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin on 25 October with a lead of at least 125 points to secure the title, with five races at most remaining thereafter.

He would achieve that by winning, provided Russell finishes ninth or lower and Hamilton fifth or lower.

Antonelli acknowledged that the championship was within reach but said he would continue approaching the remaining races individually.

After 17 races, Hamilton is third in the standings, nine points behind Russell, Around Prague reported.

Ferrari are second in the constructors’ championship with 444 points, 134 behind Mercedes.

Hamilton said he would continue working hard and return determined to fight back at the next race.

Sources: BBC Sport (via Capital FM); Reuters (via TimesLIVE); Grande Premio; Crash.net; Around Prague.