Hamilton didn't want to pit for slicks on lap 11 at first

Lewis Hamilton gained six places with a perfectly-timed pit stop in the rain at Spa. But he initially resisted his team’s call to pit.

“No way,” replied Hamilton when his race engineer Ricardo Adami asked him whether he thought the track was ready for slicks early on lap 11.

But as Hamilton continued around the rapidly-drying seven-kilometre Spa-Francorchamps, he began to think the track might be ready after all.

“I’m down to try if you want,” he eventually told Adami, before heading in.

The decision proved to be a masterstroke. Hamilton was the first driver to switch to slicks and on his out-lap he immediately went almost four seconds faster through the middle sector.

Almost every other driver headed for the pits on the next lap. Hamilton jumped ahead of five drivers he had been chasing, then passed Liam Lawson who emerged from the pits ahead of him.

That put Hamilton into seventh place. With few further passes possible over the remainder of the race, the tactical move he initially resisted had paid off massively. Here’s how he and Adami made the call.

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Hamilton’s radio messages from around his pit stop

Hamilton managed to pass several drivers during the opening laps when the track was at its wettest.

Lap: 8/44 HAM: 2’01.599
AdamiHamilton passes Colapinto
Well done Lewis. Hulkenberg next car ahead, one second.
Lap: 9/44 HAM: 2’04.389
AdamiHamilton passes Hulkenberg
That’s P14, good job. Gasly next.
AdamiHamilton passes Gasly at Stavelot
That’s awesome, Lewis. Bearman ahead, three seconds, about track conditions when you can.
HamiltonTyre’s good.
AdamiCool.
Lap: 10/44 HAM: 2’03.457
AdamiWettest part of the track is turn five, you can manage in 10 and 15 for tyres.
AdamiSwitch red, switch red. And pull back the entry of five, five metres. We are in the rear overheating phase.

After initially rejecting Adami’s suggestion he switch to slicks, Hamilton reconsidered as he passed through the middle part of the lap:

Lap: 11/44 HAM: 2’10.597
AdamiKemmel straight
You think to stop for slicks now, new medium?
HamiltonNo way.
AdamiCopy.
HamiltonExit of Les Combes
It’s not far, some places, but it’ll be very [unclear] slick.
AdamiUnderstood. Let’s [unclear] those cars ahead.
HamiltonApproaching Pouhon
Very close, for sure.
HamiltonApproaching Fagnes
I’m down to try if you want.
AdamiCopy.
HamiltonThese tyres are dropping off.
AdamiBox, Lewis, box.
HamiltonYeah, probably go to medium though.
AdamiYeah, medium.
HamiltonI’ve got a little too much front wing.
AdamiHamilton pits
Tyre back at position three. Drop shallow.

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Once he rejoined the track, Hamilton asked for an update on his position, and discovered how well the gamble had paid off:

Lap: 12/44 HAM: 2’12.214
AdamiCaution pit exit is wet. Also five, six. Tyre position three, all clear ahead and behind. Hulkenberg three seconds behind, also on medium.
AdamiEverybody is boxing ahead.
Lap: 13/44 HAM: 1’51.050
AdamiRacing cars ahead. Lawson ahead, two seconds.
Hamilton passes Lawson on the Kemmel straight
HamiltonGap ahead?
AdamiSix seconds.
HamiltonPosition?
AdamiWe are on P7 on the road. You are the fastest man on track. Group of cars ahead, three and a half, racing for position.

After the race Hamilton told his team: “Great job with the strategy and pit stop.” Adami replied: “Hey, you made it work.”

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