Lewis Hamilton tells Mercedes they are ‘killing him’ after… Singapore GP…read more.
Lewis Hamilton expressed his frustration with Mercedes after their aggressive tyre strategy during the Singapore Grand Prix hindered his performance. The seven-time world champion started from third place on the grid, but a bold move from the team to use soft compound tyres, while most of the field opted for mediums, put him at a disadvantage as the race progressed.
The strategy was initially designed to give Hamilton a strong start and potentially allow him to challenge second-placed Max Verstappen early in the race. However, when the lights went out, Hamilton struggled with wheelspin, which hampered his chances to make an early overtake on the Dutch driver. By the time they reached Turn One, Hamilton could only attempt a half-hearted move on Verstappen, who comfortably maintained his position.
Hamilton’s troubles didn’t end there. As his soft tyres began to degrade, he found himself under pressure from his teammate George Russell, who was running on mediums and had better grip. With Hamilton struggling to manage tyre temperatures and his pace dropping, Mercedes decided to bring him in for a pit stop earlier than expected, switching him to the hard tyres on Lap 18.
Despite the team’s attempt to salvage his race with an early stop, Hamilton wasn’t convinced by the decision. Immediately after rejoining the race, he radioed in to express his dissatisfaction, claiming that they had stopped too early. His concerns deepened as the race went on, and by Lap 27, he reported further issues, saying, “Something’s definitely wrong with the car mate. Tyres are dropping off.”
The early switch to hard tyres meant that Hamilton was at a disadvantage compared to the cars around him, who were on fresher rubber. As his race unfolded, Hamilton found himself in a difficult position, not only struggling with the car’s balance but also falling behind key competitors. Once Russell made his pit stop, Hamilton dropped behind his teammate, adding to his frustrations. He voiced his complaints again over team radio, saying, “You’re killing me with this offset, mate.”
His situation worsened when he lost another position to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Piastri, who had employed an opposite strategy by running a longer first stint on medium tyres, pitted on Lap 39 and emerged just under two seconds behind Hamilton. With fresher tyres, Piastri was able to catch up and eventually pass the Mercedes driver, leaving Hamilton further down the order.
While Hamilton struggled, Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, enjoyed a more successful race. After starting from pole position, Norris managed to fend off Verstappen’s challenge at the start and began building a comfortable lead. His pace was strong throughout the race, and he eventually stretched his advantage over Verstappen to 20 seconds. The win marked an important milestone for Norris, who had previously faced difficulties converting pole positions into race victories.
Hamilton’s struggles in Singapore reflect the ongoing challenges Mercedes has faced this season with tyre management and race strategy. Although they have shown glimpses of competitive pace in qualifying, their performance in races has often been hampered by strategic misjudgments or difficulties in managing tyre wear, particularly in the heat of Singapore.
Despite the setback, Hamilton remains one of the most skilled drivers on the grid, and his ability to maximize his car’s potential, even in difficult circumstances, continues to impress. However, with the championship fight between Red Bull’s Verstappen and McLaren’s Norris intensifying, Mercedes will need to address their strategy and tyre management issues if they are to challenge for race wins and podiums consistently.
For Hamilton, the frustration in Singapore is just another example of the fine margins that can make or break a race in Formula 1. As he and the team regroup, they will look to put the lessons learned from Singapore into practice for the remainder of the season, hoping to reclaim their place at the top of the standings.
