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 Martin Brundle Slams Lewis Hamilton’s ‘Bizarre’ Ferrari Strategy After Singapore GP Disaster

Lewis Hamilton’s frustrating Singapore Grand Prix has sparked fresh debate after a costly strategy decision left the seven-time world champion struggling in the closing stages of the race. Now, former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle has weighed in on the incident, questioning why the Ferrari star failed to take advantage of a crucial pit-stop opportunity.

Hamilton appeared to be in a strong position to fight for a podium finish at Marina Bay. However, his race took a disappointing turn after he remained on track while several opportunities to switch to fresh tyres were available. As his soft tyres continued to wear, the Ferrari driver lost valuable time and positions, eventually dropping out of contention for the top three.

Martin Brundle Questions Hamilton’s Bizarre Strategy Decision

Hamilton began the race on a fresh set of medium tyres before making an early stop on lap 18 to switch to soft tyres. The move appeared to indicate that Ferrari was preparing for a two-stop strategy.

However, the British driver did not stop again, even when a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) created an opportunity for a relatively inexpensive pit stop. The VSC was triggered when Lance Stroll’s damaged Aston Martin had to be cleared from the circuit.

Brundle highlighted the decision in his post-race blog for Sky Sports, describing Hamilton’s failure to pit again as “bizarre.”

The former F1 driver also pointed out how difficult it can be for a driver to manage a modern Formula 1 car while simultaneously making strategic decisions from the cockpit.

Hamilton Loses Positions as Tyres Begin to Fade

As the race entered its closing stages, Hamilton’s worn tyres became an increasingly serious problem. His pace dropped, allowing Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris to catch and overtake him with only a handful of laps remaining.

Oscar Piastri then delivered another blow to Hamilton’s afternoon. Despite having made an unscheduled pit stop because of a slow puncture, the McLaren driver closed a ten-second gap in just five laps to take fifth place away from the Ferrari star.

The result was a frustrating end to what had initially looked like a promising race for Hamilton.

Hamilton Admits Responsibility for the Strategy Call

Following the race, it emerged that the decision to switch to a one-stop strategy was Hamilton’s own call. The strategy required him to complete 44 laps on the same set of tyres, a demanding task that ultimately contributed to his late-race difficulties.

Hamilton subsequently apologised to Ferrari for the decision.

Brundle acknowledged the challenges involved in managing race strategy while driving at the highest level, noting that Ferrari had seemingly expected Hamilton to pit during the Virtual Safety Car period.

The incident has raised questions about the communication between Hamilton and Ferrari during the race, particularly over the decision to remain on track when a pit stop could have helped protect his position.

For Hamilton, the Singapore Grand Prix became a painful reminder of how quickly a promising result can slip away in Formula 1. For Ferrari, the incident has provided another opportunity to examine its race-day decision-making as the team looks to avoid similar setbacks in future races.