Lewis Hamilton apologised to Ferrari for costing the group factors on the Belgian Grand Prix.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton endured a tough dash weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, struggling two eliminations within the first a part of qualifying on consecutive days.
Lewis Hamilton might solely handle fifteenth within the dash race earlier than a monitor limits violation noticed him exit common qualifying in a lowly sixteenth.
The 40-year-old Briton turned in a powerful fightback cost to get better to seventh, however with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc claiming a podium end in third, Hamilton acknowledged he left factors on the desk.
“Sorry about this weekend guys, shedding you factors,” Hamilton mentioned over group radio after taking the chequered flag in Belgium.
“I will work tougher to return again stronger on the subsequent race. Nice job on the technique and pit stops.”
Regardless of being buoyed by his efficiency within the grand prix, Hamilton admitted it was finally a weekend to neglect for him.
“I feel everybody within the group labored so laborious,” Hamilton mentioned. “We clearly had these upgrades. Everybody again within the manufacturing facility labored so laborious. After which whenever you come and put in a efficiency like I had in these previous two days, it is robust as a result of that is not what the group deserves.
“It wasn’t a case of essentially coming in and never being in the best thoughts by the weekend. There have been a couple of elements that did have an effect on, notably on Friday. Saturday it was simply me. However I recovered immediately. So I obtained some factors.
“We outscored Mercedes on factors, which is nice. Charles did a fantastic job. Clearly the automobile is enhancing as a result of Charles was capable of maintain on to a different podium. So I am nonetheless going to work laborious subsequent week”.
Ferrari impressed by Hamilton’s ‘aggressive’ restoration
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari group principal Fred Vasseur was fast to reward Hamilton’s decisive fightback by the sphere, although he acknowledged the group must do a greater job throughout the weekend.
“The temper is nice,” Vasseur mentioned. “For certain it isn’t the outcome we have been anticipating with Lewis in qualifying. However it’s a part of the lifetime of racing group that we reacted collectively very effectively.
“Lewis did a fantastic job. He was fairly aggressive in the beginning within the excessive situations.He was capable of combat with Albon till the tip with the downforce of Budapest. It was a very good restoration for him additionally to be environment friendly like this.
“Now for certain now we have to do a greater job from the start, if you wish to rating podium or wins, you possibly can’t let one session away. We’ll should do a step subsequent week, however we’re all pushing in the identical route.”
Hamilton was the primary driver to modify onto slick tyres within the wet-dry race and that proved essential in aiding his cost.
“I feel with Lewis it was the best name, as a result of it’s most likely within the first couple of laps you can overtake, and the downforce helped him to return again,” Vasseur defined.
“Then maybe we didn’t have the overall tempo to overhaul Russell or Albon, and we have been caught behind them with the wing, however at the very least we got here again P7.
“Whenever you make the selection on Saturday at 2pm you haven’t any clue about what number of laps you’ll do on Sunday with the inters. For certain it’s a sort of gamble, and I feel it was the best name.”
