Ferrari was looking to bounce back after a poor race weekend in Azerbaijan, where the Scuderia managed to pick up just six points. However, qualifying did not go the Italian team’s way, as Lewis Hamilton was the lead Ferrari, starting in P6.
The Scuderia were looking to bring home the cars in sixth and seventh, until Hamilton had a late brake issue. Leclerc passed his teammate while Lewis was left to fend off Fernando Alonso. With no left brake, Hamilton cut many corners on the final lap, earning himself a five-second penalty. However, F1 fans are divided on whether this was the right decision by the stewards.
Lewis Hamilton’s Singapore penalty splits F1 fans
The stewards awarded Lewis Hamilton his penalty, which dropped him down to eighth and behind Alonso. They concluded that managing a brake issue was not a “justifiable reason” for leaving the track.
This shocked some F1 fans, with one commenting, “Love to know what a justifiable reason would be! I’d have thought having no brakes was a good one!”
Love to know what a justifiable reason would be! I’d have thought having no brakes was a good one!
— Róisin_Reid (@Rach_R30) October 5, 2025
Another agreed, saying, “What, do they expect to drive into a wall?”
What, do they expect to drive into a wall?
— Ben ford (@Benford15337185) October 5, 2025
However, other fans believe that the decision to only award the seven-time champion a five-second penalty was lenient. One fan wrote, “Fairly lenient given if they really wanted too they could have thrown car in unsafe condition at them.”
Fairly lenient givrn if they really wanted too they could have thrown car in unsafe condition at them
— Andrew (@Andrewpryor0997) October 5, 2025
Other fans also felt Hamilton’s car was unsafe to be on the track. One fan wrote, “No brake? Retire the car, as simple as that my friends, it’s unsafe.”
The stewards state that managing a brake failure is not a “justifiable reason” for going off track:
“During the hearing, the driver confirmed that he left the track at several occasions. He was trying to manage a brakes issue situation.
“This being said, after further… https://t.co/PkcG0abDTb
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) October 5, 2025
Neither Hamilton nor the team appealed the decision, given that it was only fighting for P7. It is not where Ferrari expected the SF-25 to be competing. The Italian team is losing touch with their rivals, with Mercedes now competing at the front end again. Ferrari is the fourth quickest team, and that is unlikely to change until next season.
Singapore GP a tough race weekend for Lewis Hamilton
Before the brake failure and ensuing penalty, the Singapore GP was a tough race weekend for Lewis Hamilton. The Brit looked to be behind Charles Leclerc in terms of pace throughout Friday. However, the seven-time world champion pulled it back on Saturday, beating his teammate in qualifying for only the fifth time this season. However, that only secured Lewis P6, and half a second off pole position.
Hamilton then started slower than Leclerc and dropped down to P7. He remained there for most of the race, stuck in traffic behind the Monogasque and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. With a large gap behind, Hamilton boxed late on for soft tyres. He cruised past Leclerc and caught up to Antonelli before his brake issue happened. His possible P5 turned into a P8.
After the race, Hamilton concluded, “I feel pain for all the team. They really do give absolutely everything, but the car we have is unfortunately not of the level of the guys ahead of us.
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“Particularly as they’ve had some upgrades and we can’t match them. We’re on a knife-edge trying to get as close as we can.”
Ferrari will be looking to bounce back after losing second in the constructors’ championship to Mercedes. However, Mercedes now looks to have a pace advantage over the team from Maranello. Ferrari needs to unlock some performance or risk even losing out to Red Bull.
