Lewis Hamilton apologised to his Ferrari team after making a strategic error which cost him a podium at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The seven-time F1 world champion started the race in third and looked well set for a podium behind race winner Max Verstappen and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
However, in contrast to the rest of the field, Hamilton pitted early for soft tyres and struggled towards the end of the race as his grip dropped off.
As such, in the closing stages, he lost three places to Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri and was powerless to defend despite the Marina Bay Street Circuit’s tight and twisty nature.
On team radio straight after the race, Hamilton revealed it had been his call and apologised to his Ferrari team: “Sorry boys, I let you down today with that strategy.
“It was my call and I lost us valuable points. I’ll try and make up for it next time.”
Hamilton, who had girlfriend Kim Kardashian watching in the Ferrari garage, was also permitted to not fulfil his post-race media sessions, as he was instead attended to by the FIA medical team.
The 41-year-old is now 111 points behind championship leader Antonelli, who can now win the world championship at the next round in Austin.
Verstappen is now fourth in the standings, just eight points off Hamilton, after claiming his second consecutive victory following his first triumph of the season last week in Malaysia.
