Ferrari Admits Simulation 'Mistake' Led to Hamilton's Singapore Brake Issues

Ferrari has acknowledged a 'mistake' in its simulations contributed to Lewis Hamilton's brake problems during the final laps of the Singapore Grand Prix. This error forced Hamilton into track limit violations, resulting in a five-second penalty that dropped him to eighth place.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's admission highlights the critical role of simulation accuracy in Formula 1's razor-thin margins. A single oversight in pre-race preparation, even for a component as seemingly robust as brakes, can derail a driver's race and impact championship points. For a team aiming to return to championship contention, this incident underscores the need for continuous improvement in their technical tools and processes.

The Details:

• Brake Failure: Hamilton experienced significant brake degradation over the final four laps in Singapore, leading him to cut corners due to a lack of stopping power.
• Penalty Impact: The five-second penalty relegated Hamilton from his on-track position ahead of Fernando Alonso to eighth place.
• Aggressive Approach: Matteo Togninalli, Ferrari’s head of track engineering, stated that the team was 'a bit too aggressive' with their car setup, pushing the limits of the brakes in conscious awareness that management would be needed during the race. They ultimately 'ran out of brakes'.
• Simulation Flaw: Togninalli admitted their existing simulation tools were 'not able to predict' the overly aggressive choice, indicating a deficiency in their predictive capabilities.
• Focus on Improvement: Ferrari is now reviewing its methodologies and speeding up the process of enhancing its simulation tools to prevent similar issues in the future.
• Mexico GP as Test: The upcoming Mexican Grand Prix is identified as a 'critical' test for these improvements, given its similar intensity levels to Singapore in terms of brake demands. Ferrari plans to approach it 'a bit more conscious'.

The Big Picture:

Ferrari's 2025 season has been challenging, currently sitting third in the Constructors' Championship, 352 points behind leaders McLaren. They are yet to secure a Grand Prix win and have fallen behind Mercedes and Red Bull in recent races. Togninalli revealed that Ferrari made a strategic decision to halt car development earlier than some rivals, focusing resources on next year's widespread regulation changes. This 'strategic decision' to prioritize future development may explain some of their recent performance gaps, with Togninalli noting that 'everybody is very packed' and a mere 'tenth' of a second can make a significant difference in a competitive field.

What's next:

Ferrari's immediate focus will be on the Mexican GP, where they hope to demonstrate improved brake management and more accurate simulations. The team is committed to learning from 'critical cases' like Singapore to refine their approach. The long-term goal is to ensure their tools can accurately predict race conditions and prevent similar mistakes, positioning them better for future competitiveness, particularly with the significant regulation changes looming for the 2026 season.