Hamilton rues Japan start, won't criticise Verstappen

Sport360 staff 11:59 09/10/2016
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  • Verstappen and Hamilton come close.

    Having dropped from second to eighth place on the run to Turn 1, Hamilton had to produce a fighting drive to recover to the top three at Suzuka. While parts of the grid were still damp after morning rain, Hamilton says the start was his own error rather than anything to do with the conditions.

    “I don’t think the damp patch had anything to do with it, I made a mistake,” Hamilton said. “Working my way up from there was tricky but I did the best I could.

    “I just got wheelspin … Honestly I don’t really remember [feelings after start]. I can’t remember at the end, I was just far back and I was just looking to go forwards.”

    With Hamilton closing in on Verstappen he tried to overtake at the chicane on the penultimate lap and had to avoid the Red Bull as he ran wide due to Verstappen’s defence. Asked if he was happy with the move, Hamilton replied: “Well, it doesn’t really matter now. It has happened and we move forwards.”

    Despite dropping 33 points behind Nico Rosberg in the drivers’ standings, Hamilton was keen to praise Mercedes as his team won its third consecutive constructors’ championship at Suzuka.

    “The team did a fantastic job and a big congratulations to everyone back at the factories and to the whole of Mercedes-Benz. To have had three years in a row of success, I’m very proud to be a part of it and happy that I could contribute to it today.”

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