Hamilton says front-wing change unsettled Ferrari in Q3

Lewis Hamilton said a small front-wing adjustment left his Ferrari unstable in the decisive Q3 segment of Singapore Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday, costing him a chance to challenge for pole. He qualified third, behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, after topping the times in both Q1 and Q2. Hamilton said the team added a small amount of front-wing angle in an effort to find more speed after the car had felt strong earlier in qualifying. The change, he said, tipped the car’s balance beyond its narrow operating limit and caused it to snap during his Q3 laps. He described the adjustment as roughly one hole of wing angle. The driver said the instability affected his laps in the final segment, including at Turns 1 and 3. He estimated those snaps cost about two tenths on one lap, while he also struggled with the car on his final attempt. Hamilton said the rest of one lap had been good, but that none of his Q3 efforts came together. Hamilton’s account was that the car had felt capable of more after the first two qualifying rounds, prompting the team to seek additional performance.