- German GP - Race
Hamilton accepts blame for Button clash
Lewis Hamilton accepts the blame for the collision with Jenson Button which he thinks may have cost him second at the German Grand Prix.
Hamilton recovered to third at Hockenheim after starting down in 20th following a brake failure in qualifying, but a collision with Button on lap 31 at the Turn 6 hairpin meant he completed the second half of the race with left suspension damage. The increased degradation ultimately forced Mercedes to switch him on to a three-stop strategy and he was unable to get past Valtteri Bottas late on due to his worn 16-lap old super-soft tyres.
When asked if it cost him second: "Who's to say? I mean I lost a little bit of downforce with it but to get from 20th to third and get on the podium is a great feeling especially after such a bad start [to the weekend].
"The degradation was only really because of the loss of downforce on the front wing, it was on the front left. I had a lot of understeer so it was very hard to look after that tyre with that understeer. I'm just grateful I was able to get close. When you're starting last at the beginning of the race you can't imagine being on the podium."
With regards to the clash itself, Hamilton says he thought Button was moving over for his faster Mercedes.
"It was unfortunate with Jenson at the end. He's been great over the past few races, not really giving me a hard time when I've gone to overtake, he's kind of given me space. I went to go on the inside but didn't think I was going to make it, then it looked like he went wide so I was going to take the corner but he was cutting back through and we collided. I just hope I didn't hurt his race."
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