Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari must do whatever it takes to win, but with Max Verstappen on pole and Charles Leclerc alongside him on the front row, the Scuderia faces a strategic decision that could define its Singapore Grand Prix.
Ferrari has two cars in position to challenge Max Verstappen at the Singapore Grand Prix, but turning that numerical advantage into victory may require more than outright pace.
Lewis Hamilton has called on his team to do “whatever it takes” to win Sunday’s race, opening the door to a potential tactical partnership with teammate Charles Leclerc as the pair prepare to attack the Red Bull driver from second and third on the grid.
Verstappen will start from pole position at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, with Leclerc alongside him and Hamilton directly behind in third. The grid gives Ferrari two opportunities to challenge the Dutchman, although Singapore’s tight street circuit makes overtaking difficult and places enormous importance on the opening lap.
For Ferrari, the question is no longer simply whether its drivers can challenge Verstappen individually. It is whether they can work together effectively without compromising their own chances of winning.
Verstappen Has Pole, but Ferrari Has Two Chances
Saturday’s qualifying session gave Ferrari a promising starting position, even if Hamilton was unable to convert his pace from the earlier sessions into pole.
Hamilton topped both Q1 and Q2, suggesting that Ferrari had the speed to challenge for the front position. However, he struggled to produce a clean lap in Q3 and eventually qualified third, behind Verstappen and Leclerc.
The seven-time world champion said the car felt excellent during the first two qualifying segments but became more difficult to control when he tried to extract additional performance in the final session.
That left him with a position behind both his main rival and his teammate, but not without hope.
Hamilton believes Ferrari has a car capable of fighting for victory and says he will attempt to capitalise on the start before assessing what opportunities emerge during the race.
His confidence matters because the Singapore circuit often rewards track position more than raw pace. Passing opportunities are limited, and a driver who establishes control early can make life difficult for anyone trying to get ahead.
Verstappen has secured the advantage Ferrari must overcome. However, with two red cars immediately behind him, Red Bull cannot afford to focus on only one challenger.
Hamilton Opens the Door to Ferrari Teamwork
Hamilton’s comments have placed Ferrari’s internal strategy firmly in the spotlight.
“As a team we need to do whatever it takes to win,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.
He added that Ferrari had a car capable of fighting and that he would give everything to recover from his qualifying position.
Hamilton also acknowledged that having two Ferraris near the front could create opportunities to apply pressure on Verstappen.
“It will be very hard for us to beat Max tomorrow, but there’s two Ferraris there and I think we can hopefully, there might be opportunities for us to work together to try and apply the pressure,” he said.
The important distinction is that Hamilton has expressed a willingness to work as a team; he has not announced that Ferrari will impose team orders.
Ferrari’s final approach will depend on how the race develops, particularly during the opening lap and the first round of pit stops.
If Leclerc holds second and Hamilton remains third, Ferrari could find itself with two cars close enough to influence Verstappen’s decisions. If one Ferrari gets ahead of the other, the team may have to decide whether its priority is protecting that position or maximising its overall chance of victory.
Those decisions become more complicated when both drivers have their own ambitions.
Leclerc Also Recognises the Strategic Opportunity
Leclerc has acknowledged that Ferrari may need to discuss its options if the team finds itself in a position to challenge Verstappen for the win.
The Monegasque driver starts second, giving him the clearest immediate opportunity to attack the pole-sitter.
However, he also recognises that the driver running behind can lose valuable time if both cars follow similar strategies without gaining an advantage.
Leclerc told Sky Sports F1 that Ferrari would need to assess the situation and discuss what to do if a victory became a realistic possibility.
That leaves several possibilities open.
Ferrari could allow both drivers to race normally at the start, then evaluate the situation after the opening lap. Alternatively, if one car becomes the stronger strategic option, the team could consider using different pit-stop timing to put pressure on Verstappen.
Any such decision would require careful management. A move designed to help one Ferrari could leave the other vulnerable to a rival, while an aggressive battle between teammates could allow Verstappen to escape.
The challenge is to cooperate without creating a new problem inside the team.
How Ferrari Could Put Pressure on Verstappen
Ferrari’s potential advantage lies in its ability to create two separate strategic threats.
1. Make the start count
Leclerc starts alongside Verstappen, while Hamilton begins directly behind them.
A strong getaway from either Ferrari could immediately change the race’s strategic picture. If Leclerc challenges Verstappen into the opening corner, Hamilton could have an opportunity to follow through or pressure whichever driver emerges behind.
However, the opening lap also carries risk. The drivers will have limited room to manoeuvre, and neither Ferrari can assume that its teammate will automatically yield position.
A clean start is essential. Contact or a compromised getaway could destroy Ferrari’s numerical advantage before the strategy battle has properly begun.
2. Use different pit-stop strategies
An early pit stop could allow a Ferrari to attempt an undercut, using fresh tyres to gain time before its rival makes a stop.
If successful, that move could place the Ferrari in a stronger position to challenge Verstappen. It might also force Red Bull to respond rather than follow its preferred strategy.
The alternative is to extend the first stint. That could create an opportunity to benefit from a Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car, should one occur at a favourable time.
Neither approach guarantees success. The right decision depends on tyre performance, traffic, pit-stop timing and the gaps between the cars.
3. Avoid taking points away from each other
Ferrari must also consider the danger of its drivers becoming their own biggest obstacle.
If Hamilton and Leclerc fight aggressively for position, they could lose time while Verstappen builds a gap. Even if both Ferraris have competitive pace, a prolonged internal battle may make the Red Bull harder to catch.
That is where clear communication from the pit wall becomes important.
Teamwork does not necessarily mean one driver must surrender a position before the circumstances justify it. It means Ferrari needs a shared understanding of when cooperation offers a better chance of winning than allowing both cars to pursue separate strategies.
Why Singapore Makes the Challenge More Difficult
The Marina Bay Street Circuit is a demanding venue for any driver trying to recover from behind.
Its narrow layout and limited overtaking opportunities mean that qualifying position can have an outsized influence on the race. A driver may have more pace than the car ahead but still struggle to find a safe opportunity to pass.
The circuit’s high temperatures and traction zones can also place significant demands on the tyres. Teams must balance the need to push with the importance of keeping the tyres in a condition that allows the car to remain competitive later in the race.
A one-stop strategy may be possible if drivers manage their pace effectively, but the best approach will depend on the race conditions.
That creates an opportunity for Ferrari to think beyond a straightforward speed contest. If the team can use its two cars to create strategic pressure, it may be able to force Red Bull to make difficult decisions.
But Verstappen’s starting position gives him control over the initial phase of the race. Ferrari must find a way to challenge him without wasting the advantage of having two cars near the front.
Verstappen Knows the Start Matters
Verstappen has also identified the start as an area that needs attention.
Speaking about the importance of a good getaway, he acknowledged that Red Bull needed to improve in that area. He also noted that the wet conditions during the Sprint made Saturday’s start different from what the drivers could expect in the Grand Prix.
That distinction matters because Ferrari’s opportunities will depend partly on what happens when the lights go out.
A poor start from Verstappen could immediately expose him to both Ferraris. A strong launch, on the other hand, could allow him to establish control before the race settles into its strategic phase.
Verstappen’s pole position is therefore a significant advantage, but it does not eliminate the threat behind him.
Ferrari has the opportunity to test Red Bull from two directions. Whether that becomes a genuine advantage will depend on execution rather than the number of cars involved.
Could Ferrari Actually Beat Verstappen Through Teamwork?
It is possible, but teamwork alone will not guarantee victory.
Ferrari needs competitive pace, a clean opening lap, sound tyre management and precise pit-wall decisions. The team must also avoid allowing its drivers to lose time fighting each other while Verstappen builds an advantage.
The most effective approach may be to keep both options open early in the race and make decisions based on what happens on track.
If Leclerc can challenge Verstappen directly while Hamilton remains close enough to influence Red Bull’s strategy, Ferrari could create pressure that would not exist if only one car were in contention.
But if one Ferrari falls out of the fight or the pace difference between the cars becomes significant, the team may have to reassess its priorities.
There is also a human element. Both Hamilton and Leclerc are competing for a Grand Prix victory, and any decision affecting their positions must be handled carefully.
Ferrari’s task is to balance those individual ambitions with the opportunity to secure a result for the team.
GUZ Sport Verdict
Ferrari has the ingredients to make the Singapore Grand Prix a difficult race for Max Verstappen: Charles Leclerc starts second, Lewis Hamilton starts third, and both drivers believe the team can challenge for victory.
Hamilton’s call to do “whatever it takes” signals that Ferrari is prepared to consider the bigger picture. Leclerc has also indicated that the team may need to discuss its options if a win becomes possible.
However, no confirmed team-order decision has been reported. Any cooperation between the drivers remains dependent on the circumstances of the race.
The start could determine how much pressure Ferrari can apply, while pit-stop timing and tyre management may decide whether that pressure lasts.
Ferrari does not necessarily need to sacrifice one driver to help the other. It needs to make both cars count.
If Leclerc and Hamilton can challenge Verstappen without compromising each other’s races, Ferrari may turn its two-car advantage into a genuine opportunity to win.
If they cannot, Verstappen could benefit from Ferrari’s internal battle and take control of the race.
The strategy is there to be played. Sunday will reveal whether Ferrari can execute it.
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