• Australian Grand Prix

Hamilton left angry after a poor weekend

Lewis Hamilton keeps his feelings in check © Sutton Images

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• News:
• Hamilton makes peace with McLaren
  
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• McLaren admits it let one-two finish slip
  

• Race:
• Australian Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Lewis Hamilton

• Teams:
• McLaren

There was no disguising Lewis Hamilton's anger after team strategy and then poor driving from Mark Webber cost him a potential podium finish in the Australian Grand Prix. After his brush with the police on Friday and then a poor qualifying session on Saturday, it capped a forgettable weekend in Melbourne.

Hamilton battled to third before being called into the pits for a second tyre change, then clawed his way back to fifth to challenge the two Ferraris in the closing stages when he was hit from behind by Webber, sending him spinning into the gravel. He did well to keep his car going and cross the line in sixth.

But shortly before the incident with the Red Bull he had testily demanded to know over the team radio "who is responsible for this strategy". Afterwards he was no calmer.

"To sum up the race I think I probably had one of the drives of my life and unfortunately, due to the strategy, I was put further back and then I got taken out by Webber. I'm happy with the job that I did. I think I honestly drove my heart out today and I think I deserved better than what I ended up with, but I'll keep fighting to the next race."

Asked if he blamed his team, he said: "All I know is the guys do, always, a fantastic job, but the strategy was not right. Everyone else in front of me did one stop and for some reason I did two." When asked whose decision the second stop had been, he said: "I don't know, we'll find out."

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh said his driver's complaints simply demonstrated his desire to win.

"That is how Lewis is," he said. "He is passionate, he likes to win, he likes to do everything well, he is hard on himself, he is hard on the team. And that is how Lewis functions. If Lewis didn't feel disappointed and frustrated, I'd be worried."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.