Ferrari’s race strategy came under scrutiny during the 2026 Australian Grand Prix after a tense team radio message from Lewis Hamilton during a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period.
The VSC was deployed during the race following incidents and retirements earlier in the event, including issues for Isack Hadjar and Fernando Alonso. With the field slowed and lap times restricted, teams were presented with a strategic opportunity to make pit stops while losing less time compared to normal racing conditions.
Mercedes reacted immediately to the VSC by bringing both drivers into the pits in a double-stack strategy, allowing George Russell and Kimi Antonelli to change tyres and rejoin the race quickly.
Ferrari, however, opted for the opposite approach. The team kept both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc out on track, prioritizing track position rather than taking advantage of the slower pit stop window under the VSC.
The decision quickly drew a reaction from Hamilton over the team radio, where the seven-time world champion said, “At least one of us should have come in!”
The comment suggested that Hamilton believed Ferrari should have split strategies between its two drivers. By pitting one car and leaving the other out, the team could have covered more strategic scenarios and potentially protected itself against Mercedes gaining an advantage.
Instead, Ferrari committed both cars to the same approach, leaving them vulnerable if Mercedes’ earlier pit stops proved advantageous once the race returned to full speed.
The moment highlighted the ongoing tactical battle between Ferrari and Mercedes at the front of the race, as teams attempted to balance tyre strategy, track position, and pit stop timing during the unpredictable early stages of the 2026 season opener.