Lewis Hamilton has defended his decision to override Ferrari’s pit instruction during the chaotic Sao Paulo Grand Prix, citing a “lack of information” as the primary reason for staying out on slick tires. The seven-time world champion finished ninth at Interlagos after ignoring the team’s call to switch to intermediates with ten laps remaining, a strategic gamble that ultimately cost him valuable track position. While the rain intensified rapidly, Hamilton chose to mirror the actions of the car ahead of him, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, rather than immediately following his team’s directive.
Seven-time champion explains decision to stay out on slicks as rain ruined Sao Paulo bid
The critical moment arrived when heavy downpours began to fall, catching the field off guard. Although Mercedes immediately brought in George Russell from fifth place, Ferrari instructed Hamilton to pit. However, Hamilton opted to stay out, a move that diverged from the strategy of his teammate, Charles Leclerc, who was running just behind him and complied with the pit call. This split decision highlighted the high-pressure environment of the race, where split-second judgments on track conditions can drastically alter final standings.
Hamilton’s gamble proved costly when he spun on the subsequent lap in the treacherous, wet conditions. He was forced to pit at the end of that lap to finally switch to intermediate tires, following his rivals into the pits. The incident underscored the difficulty of reading changing weather patterns in real-time, with Hamilton acknowledging that the limited data available at the time influenced his choice to remain on the track, resulting in a disappointing finish for the Ferrari squad in Brazil.
Source: Sky Sports
