P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes’ decision to start Lewis Hamilton on the soft tyres in Singapore has come under criticism.
Mercedes admitted to making a crucial mistake by starting Lewis Hamilton on soft tyres at the Singapore Grand Prix, aiming for an advantage off the line but instead causing early tire degradation and a necessary pit stop. Despite attempts to recover, Hamilton finished sixth due to fresher rubber from competitors. The team’s technical director acknowledged the error and emphasized the oversight in strategy. The decision to begin on soft tyres was based on the hope for a quick start, not foreseeing the subsequent challenges faced by Hamilton on the fragile rubber compound. The team contemplated a potential two-stop strategy, but calculations indicated it would not have made up for the initial pit-stop loss. The strategy, though with some potential benefits in specific scenarios, ultimately backfired in a race that proceeded uninterrupted, leaving Mercedes to reflect on the missed opportunities and the impacts on Hamilton’s race weekend.
