How Hamilton endured a slog to sixth in Singapore · RaceFans

Lewis Hamilton’s frustration with his strategy in the Singapore Grand Prix became clear shortly after he was overtaken by his team mate George Russell.

The pair shared the second row of the grid at the start. But Mercedes opted to put Hamilton on soft tyres, which led him to pit earlier than most of his rivals, three of whom passed him before the end of the race. He later said he was “so angry” with the decision.

Here’s how his race unfolded on his radio.

Hamilton’s Singapore Grand Prix radio

Jump to:

“It’s going to be a tough afternoon”
“You should both be managing”
“You’ve taken too much out”
“It’ll be close with Gasly”
“We just had a bit of a steep drop”
“Have I stopped before everyone?”
“George is coming by because I’ve got no grip”
“Sometimes I wonder why I do this”
“I can see him”
“Just up the lift-and-coast”
“Does everyone else have deg like that?”
“Sorry we gave you a car that was not good enough”

“It’s going to be a tough afternoon”

Hamilton was disappointed to discover that, while his team had decided he should start the race on the soft tyre compound, every other driver in the top 13 lined up on the medium rubber. When he was unable to pass either of the drivers ahead of him at the start, he knew he faced a difficult race.

“You should both be managing”

Hamilton’s team mate George Russell, who started on mediums, briefly closed in, but the team told both they needed to save their tyres at this stage.