Lewis Hamilton had an F1 commitment cancelled at the Singapore Grand Prix, as confirmed by a statement from Mercedes. The seven-time world champion had expressed doubts about his chances heading into the weekend, suggesting it would be difficult for Mercedes to reach Q3. Although he started the race from a favorable grid position, his decision to use soft compound tires ultimately impacted his performance.
The Brit pitted early for hard tires but struggled to keep them in good condition, expressing frustration about the strategy over team radio. As a result, his teammate George Russell, who had started behind Hamilton in P4, emerged ahead after his pit stop.
Both Mercedes drivers were overtaken by Oscar Piastri, who claimed the final podium spot, making it a disappointing weekend for the Ferrari-bound Hamilton. After the Singapore GP, Mercedes announced in an official statement that neither Hamilton nor Russell would participate in post-race media duties due to fatigue from the race. The statement read, “Unfortunately, neither George nor Lewis will be attending the media pen this evening as they recover from the exertions of this evening’s race.”
Instead, the media will receive quotes from Hamilton and Russell in Mercedes’ post-race press release as they recover from the physical demands of the event. The intense heat and humidity in Singapore make the race even more challenging for drivers, who feel the effects inside the cockpit. After pushing hard for 62 laps, drivers can lose up to 4kg in sweat during the Singapore GP. Hamilton and Russell weren’t the only ones exhausted post-race; Franco Colapinto was also unable to speak to his Williams team after his first race at the street circuit.
