How a 'confusing situation’ led to Hamilton missing the chance to pit

After suffering his worst qualifying result on pure pace since the 2009 British Grand Prix with a shock Q1 elimination in Jeddah, Hamilton had worked his way up from 15th on the grid to sixth when a late VSC was triggered when Daniel Ricciardo and Fernando Alonso both stopped on track. 

The seven-time world champion was informed by his race engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington that he was within his VSC window and should be ready to pit. Hamilton was then instructed to ‘box’ by Bonnington as he reached the final corner. 

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But having seen that Ricciardo’s McLaren had ground to a halt at the entrance to the pitlane, Hamilton reported that it was “too late” to come in for new tyres. 

How it played out over team radio 

Bonnington (Lap 35): Alonso has a car problem. Just a reminder, you are in your VSC and Safety Car window. 

Bonnington (Lap 36): Ricciardo has stopped just before the pit entry. Just reminder you are in VSC and Safety Car window. But be mindful, pit lane may close. 

Hamilton: (Lap 36): You let me know man. 

Bonnongton (Lap 36): Just keep an eye on it. Roger. 

Bonnington (Lap 36): So box, box. Box, box. Keep an eye on the pit lane [light]. 

Hamilton (Lap 36): Car's slowed down?

Bonnington (Lap 36): Okay, box, box. Box, box.

Hamilton (Lap 37): Ahh, it’s too late.

Bonnington (Lap 37): VSC, so keep delta positive. The pit lane has closed.

Hamilton (Lap 37): Sorry about that guys. I just... there was a car in the way.

Bonnington (Lap 37): Just keep that delta positive. Another car has stopped in the pit entry. 

Bonnington (Lap 37): So if you go to strat mode one. Just keep an eye on those pit lane boards. As soon as the pit lane opens, we are in. So pit lane still closed.

Hamilton continued round while seven seconds behind him, the Haas of Kevin Magnussen was one of two drivers to make it into the pitlane before it closed. 

Hamilton subsequently missed out on the chance of completing a ‘free’ pitstop and had no alternative but to pit when the VSC period finally ended on Lap 41. After doing so, he dropped to 12th with just a handful of laps remaining in the race. 

Having picked his way past two of his rivals, Hamilton finished 10th to salvage the final point on offer, even if he was not completely sure. 

“Is there even a point for that position,” a bewildered Hamilton asked over team radio.  

There were suggestions that Hamilton might have been hesitant to come in to the pits following the unusual mix-up at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix that resulted in him receiving a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for entering the pit lane when it was closed. 

It seemed as though that had been on Hamilton’s mind when he admitted after the race that he was uncertain whether he could have pitted without incurring a penalty. 

"It was a difficult one," Hamilton said. "I saw Alonso slowing down, it was double yellow flags so I didn't push to overtake him. 

“Then Daniel was stuck in the pitlane, so I didn't know if I could go in with a car sitting there. It was just not great.”

When asked why Hamilton did not respond to the original call for him to pit, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said: “Obviously Alonso broke down during the lap, Ricciardo broke down with the engine, and we told him to come in. 

“But there was a double yellow, a car slowing down and one stationary. It was just an overall confusing situation. He drove by, slowing down because of the confusion, and that made us come out behind Magnussen, and obviously then it's game over."