Lewis Hamilton has expressed his dismay after the mistakes he made in the Singapore Grand Prix but has stated that he won’t punish himself as “these things happen”.
Hamilton was running in fourth place and within a second of Carlos Sainz before he locked up and found himself in the barriers with front wing damage on lap 33.
The Mercedes driver was forced into the pits and lost multiple places in the process.
“I knew it was all over from then, but these things happen. I’m not going to punish myself for a mistake,” the seven-time champion said after the race.
“It was very tricky conditions for everyone. The problems that we have with this car are magnified in the rain when it’s wet, and it’s a very, very hard car to drive in the rain.”
Hamilton spent the first half of the race on the gearbox of Sainz and made it clear to the Mercedes pit wall that he felt he was a lot faster than the Spaniard.
The Brit initially lost third place to Sainz when the lights went out and failed to get close enough to execute an overtake.
“Yeah, a difficult start and then getting stuck behind Carlos. I don’t know why he was so slow but obviously, I was not quick enough to get past him in these conditions,” Hamilton continued.
“And then just sitting behind him. I think I could have done similar times to the guys ahead, but because I was stuck behind him I couldn’t. I think if I was in third, I could have kept with the guys up ahead.
With George Russell finishing at the back of the field and two laps down on the leaders, it means that Hamilton’s two points for finishing in ninth are the only points Mercedes have to add to their season’s tally.
“The car had its moments this weekend for sure where it was not too bad. It’s a bit hit and miss this car but for sure there are positives to take away from this weekend,” Hamilton added.
“It’s just a shame not to get more points for the team. But we’ll take it.”
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