Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team admitted to a key strategic misjudgment at the Singapore Grand Prix that left seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton visibly frustrated.

Starting in third position after a strong qualifying performance, Hamilton found himself slipping down the grid, ultimately finishing in a disappointing sixth place, behind teammate George Russell.

The team’s decision to start Hamilton on soft tires, aimed at giving him an early-race advantage, backfired as he was forced to make an early pit stop on lap 17.

This left Hamilton vulnerable on aging hard tires in the latter stages of the race, where he was overtaken by future Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who started in ninth.

In the aftermath of the race, Hamilton expressed his frustration over team radio, saying, “You’re killing me with this offset,” signaling his dissatisfaction with the strategic gamble that failed to pay off.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff conceded the mistake after the race, stating, “That was a really painful evening for us. P4 and P6 is not a good result after starting P3 and P4. Our strategy decisions in the race were determined by our experiences in the past here, where track position is crucial. We thought the soft tire would give Lewis an advantage at the start, but that turned out to be the wrong decision.”

Despite the error, Wolff emphasized that the team needs to regroup quickly ahead of the next race. “We must find a way to improve. We now look ahead to Austin, where we will have an update coming that we hope will move us forward.”

Both Hamilton and Russell, exhausted and struggling with borderline heat stroke, opted not to speak to the media after the race. However, in a statement shared by Mercedes, Hamilton commented on the challenging race: “It’s hard to describe the range of emotions you feel when we have a difficult race like that. This year continues to be a testing one for everyone, but we are all pushing as hard as we can. We don’t always get things right, and that was the case today.”

Hamilton, 39, acknowledged that while the strategy decision did not work out, the team had good intentions. He remains hopeful that Mercedes can bounce back at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, where the team is set to introduce a significant upgrade to the car.

This season has been one of highs and lows for Mercedes, with the team struggling to maintain consistency after a promising run before the summer break. Hamilton remains determined to turn things around as the season progresses, emphasizing the importance of coming together as a team to improve performance and return to the front of the grid.

As Mercedes looks to regain momentum, all eyes will be on Austin, where the team hopes to showcase the true potential of their upgrades and make a statement for the remainder of the season.