Lewis Hamilton delivered a stinging judgement of the tactics Ferrari deployed in qualifying for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, scuppering a potential pole position shot.
Hamilton had been in positive spirits after practice, and was hopeful of a strong qualifying performance as he chases his elusive first podium for Ferrari.
However, despite having confidence in the SF-25, his chances of a top-three result at Marina Bay suffered a significant setback, after he qualified a distant sixth.
Ferrari opted to keep Hamilton in the pits at the end of Q3, placing him last in queue out of the pits, a decision that left the seven-time World Champion far from impressed as his tyres failed to warm up.
Speaking to media after qualifying, including Motorsport Week, Hamilton revealed the scale of the damage done to his chances on Sunday, and publicly laid bare his frustrations with Ferrari.
“The car’s been feeling good, generally, most of the weekend,” he said. “Ultimatey. I’m disappointed with that result. Q1, the car was feeling good.
“The tyres were feeling good and then when we get into the next sessions, Q2 and Q3, it was fairly decent.
“But we are the last in the queue often and then waiting in the queue and losing a lot of temperature in the tyres.
“And every time we do that, we’re falling further and further back, And it happens every weekend.”
Starting on the inside of the grid, traditionally the dirty side, Hamilton anticipated problems off the line, and hoped circuit officials would intervene.
“I definitely think the dirt side is dirty. So we would hope they would try and clean the track, but I don’t know whether or not they will tonight. But yeah, the inside is definitely not great.”
Tyre temperatures proving a problem for Hamilton ahead of Singapore GP
Asked if the issue of waiting at the end of the pit-lane queue that characterises qualifying in F1 in 2025 has followed Ferrari, Hamilton delivered stinging rebuttal of his team.
“It has, but I don’t know whether or not they see it so much. We’re losing so much temperature. Maybe 5, 6 degrees, whatever it is, it’s still a lot of temperature.
And it’s really hard to gain that back in the out lap without using the tyres so much, which we ultimately do. We’re just starting the lap. I think the guys that are on pole, they went out quicker, without less waiting in the pit lane.
“So I think there’s an area we can improve on for sure. And I think, naturally, you’ve seen Red Bull had an upgrade, you’ve seen, I think Mercedes have found something, and we haven’t. So we’re just fighting with what we have.
“Everyone’s trying so hard, but it’s definitely disappointing to finish where we are today, when there was potential to potentially be harder.
The seven-time world champion hinted his belief that Ferrari cost him a higher grid position, but looked ahead to Sunday’s race.
“It’s generally been solid. As I said, I just wish I was higher up. I really felt like we could have been higher up today. It’s just, it happens every weekend.
“Tomorrow, I mean, it’s a race where things happen, you can take the opportunities. I’ll be on my toes, ready to capitalise on any options.
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