Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton has admitted that Ferrari "did a better job" at the Australian Grand Prix where Sebastian Vettel claimed the first win of the 2018 season.
In qualifying, Hamilton put in a stunning performance to take pole position but failed to convert pole into a race win, with Vettel overtaking the Briton in the pit lane during a virtual safety car period for a stricken Romain Grosjean.
Despite having the pace around Albert Park to maintain the gap to Vettel, Hamilton was unable to find a way past the four-time champion and ultimately settled for second place.
"It has been an incredible weekend, honestly. To arrive and have the performance we’ve had today, you know, big congratulations to Sebastian [Vettel] and to Ferrari," said Hamilton post-race.
"Today obviously they did a better job and we’ve got to go back to the drawing board and work on it but we still have great pace, our qualifying was great.
"I think that during the race I was able to apply some pressure at the end but this is one awesome circuit but it’s so hard to overtake, you know, even with the extra DRS, obviously with the cars being as close as they were so, at the end I was really trying to, you know, live to fight another day, save the engine, and we’ll try and we’ll try and regain the points later on.
"But a big thank you to everyone who has come out. We’ve got so many British flags here and for the Australians for having us this week,” he added.
While Hamilton finished in second for Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas finished in eighth after starting down in 15th, placing Mercedes in second in the Constructors' Championship, 18 points adrift of Ferrari and two points ahead of Red Bull Racing.
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