Lewis Hamilton Admits Costly Mistake in Singapore Sprint Qualifying

Pulse Sports Team 16:55 - 09 October 2026

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton shouldered the blame for his performance in Singapore Sprint Qualifying after finishing down in a disappointing sixth place. The Briton admitted that his mistake proved costly, while team-mate Charles Leclerc secured third on the grid.

Hamilton was among the few drivers who opted to set a flying lap early in SQ3, rather than waiting for the final moments of the session when track evolution was at its peak. The Briton emphasised that the tactical gamble was entirely his call.

"Everything was going great in the first two parts of qualifying, and I can't really explain why the pace vanished after that. We went with a different run plan compared to the others. That was my personal decision, and I think it was a mistake," Hamilton said.

Beyond the ill-timed run, the Briton also struggled significantly after switching to the soft compound, having previously looked far more comfortable on the medium tyres.

"The car suffered from huge oversteer on that lap. I'm not sure if the rear tyres weren't up to temperature or if they overheated. The car was very snappy and unsettled, so overall it wasn't a good lap. On the medium compound, everything felt fine, but the softs gave a completely different feel—plenty of front-end grip, but nothing at the rear. It might be a balance issue, but I was quick in the first two segments, and then suddenly had no rear grip at all," he concluded.