Arabic version: هاميلتون يعتذر بعد خطأ استراتيجي لفيراري في سنغافورة

According to BBC News, Lewis Hamilton apologised to Ferrari after choosing to stay out during a virtual safety car in the Singapore Grand Prix, a decision that cost the team points. Ferrari had been set for second and third with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton, but Hamilton dropped to sixth as his tyres faded in the closing laps.

Ferrari had called both drivers into the pits during the virtual safety car, when stopping saves about 10 seconds compared with pitting under racing conditions. Leclerc stopped, but Hamilton missed the pit entry and then decided to remain on track. Hamilton said he took full responsibility after struggling with tyre degradation and losing three places.

Team principal Frederic Vasseur said Ferrari had asked the drivers to pit and that Hamilton later recognised his decision was wrong. Hamilton had started on a new medium tyre in an attempt to make a one-stop strategy work, but said the compound did not perform as well as the soft tyre. His first pit stop came six laps before Leclerc’s, and Ferrari opted not to switch the cars when Hamilton was initially quicker.

Hamilton’s result helped Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli move closer to a first world title. Antonelli finished third behind Singapore winner Max Verstappen and Leclerc, extending his lead over team-mate George Russell to 102 points and over Hamilton to 111. The Italian can secure the title at the US Grand Prix in Austin on 25 October if he wins, Russell finishes ninth or lower, and Hamilton is fifth or lower.

Verstappen’s victory was his first grand prix win in Singapore and his second in succession. He said Red Bull’s car had become more driveable and predictable, while cautioning that Austin would present a different challenge because of its bumpy circuit. Mercedes used different specifications on Antonelli’s and Russell’s cars in Singapore as it continued to assess an aerodynamic upgrade introduced in Malaysia.