Hamilton Assumes His Mistake in Singapore: 'Painful Lesson'

Lewis Hamilton has taken responsibility for his disappointing Singapore Grand Prix result. TheBritish Ferrari driver, who finished sixth after a strategic bet that did not goas expected, acknowledged that the decision to stay on track under the VirtualSafety Car was exclusively his and apologized to the team for the lost points: "Todaywas not the result we were looking for, and it was my fault," Lewis Hamiltondeclared in a statement released after the race.

The day began well for the Briton, who started from third on medium tires. Hamilton was the first to pit for the soft compound, and when the Virtual Safety Car was deployed, he could make a second stop. His teammate, CharlesLeclerc, used the neutralization to change tires, but Hamilton initially missed the pit entry and then stayed out to try to finish the race on a single stop. A risky bet that ultimately proved counterproductive.