Hamilton recovers to third after Ferrari wet-tyre error in Bahrain
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 8, 2026
Ferrari tyre call
Lewis Hamilton recovered to third in the Bahrain Grand Prix after Ferrari sent both him and Charles Leclerc out on slick tires on a wet track, a call that knocked both drivers back from strong grid positions. Hamilton said the choice was “not good enough” after Ferrari’s strategy left him and Leclerc losing ground from second and fourth on the grid. He said he had pushed for intermediates because the surface was still wet and warned that the track was “really wet” and “dangerous.” Hamilton also pointed out that Max Verstappen and other drivers were on intermediate tires, a detail that underlined how risky Ferrari’s call proved to be. Ferrari said it believed the circuit was dry based on onboard footage from the safety car, and the team had already discussed the error and planned to improve future decision-making.
Hamilton response
Hamilton did not put the blame on one person. He defended Ferrari and said the tire decision came from a collective discussion involving Fred Vasseur, Matteo Togninalli, his engineer and himself. He also said McLaren made the same tire-choice error in Bahrain. That left the race as a lesson for more than one team, even if Ferrari paid the clearest price in the moment. Hamilton’s comments showed a driver who was frustrated by the call but still willing to stand behind the group making the decisions. He made clear that the problem came from reading the conditions wrong. Ferrari had also discussed the error and was looking to improve future decision-making. Hamilton’s recovery to third softened the damage, but the race still left Ferrari with a reminder that strategy can swing a Grand Prix in a matter of laps.
Singapore outlook
Hamilton now turns to the Singapore Grand Prix with the Bahrain result still fresh. He said he hopes Ferrari’s car will be strong in Singapore and believes the package should suit Marina Bay’s street circuit and its high-drag layout. Hamilton also said qualifying will be crucial because Singapore is the season’s final Sprint weekend. Leclerc offered a similar view of the next stop, saying Singapore looks pretty good for Ferrari on paper. He also warned that the team cannot rely on past results and that winning there would be difficult. For Ferrari, that leaves Singapore as both an opportunity and a test. The car profile may fit, but the team must pair it with cleaner decisions and a sharper read on conditions. Hamilton’s third-place finish gave Ferrari a podium and a platform. The next race will show whether the team can turn that into a stronger weekend from the start.
