• German Grand Prix

Hamilton upset at mistake

ESPNF1 Staff
July 23, 2010 « Webber expects competitive weekend | »
Lewis Hamilton crashed into the barriers at turn three © Sutton Images
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Lewis Hamilton admitted he was angry with himself after making a mistake during the first session of free practice that compromised his running for the day.

Hamilton managed only eight laps in the morning session before he spun off the circuit in the wet at turn three, sending his McLaren into the barriers and damaging the car.

"Obviously, I damaged the car quite heavily this morning," said Hamilton. "It was very slippery and I hit the limiter coming out of Turn Three, shifted gear, which spun the wheels, and had an oversteer moment. I tried to correct it and that put me onto the grass, where I was just a passenger.

"The accident took all four corners off the car, so I was a little bit upset with myself. The guys work so hard during the week to get the car ready, and then you get to the track, do a few laps, and total the car, which isn't great. It was a huge amount of work for the guys, too, but they've just been phenomenal."

Despite his mistake in the morning session, Hamilton fought hard to make the most of his limited running in the second session and managed to set the seventh fastest lap time.

"It was positive to get back out there and overcome the difficulties I had in the morning. We missed the afternoon's rain too, which was good. Now I have a decent idea of where the car is, so hopefully we can make some positive set-up changes overnight.

"The new blown diffuser still isn't perfect - it's not something you can just put on the car and drive with the same balance that you had before; you've got to alter the balance, and modify your driving style. We're still working on it, but there's potential there."

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