• British Grand Prix

Hamilton reflects on 'crazy' finish

Lewis Hamilton walks back past the Ferrari celebrations © Press Association

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• Race:
• British Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Lewis Hamilton

• Teams:
• McLaren

Lewis Hamilton said the final few laps of the British Grand Prix were "crazy" as he fought off Felipe Massa to finish fourth.

Hamilton was advised to ease off the pace by his team as concerns grew over his remaining fuel, much to his obvious frustration. Then as he started the final lap he was told to go for it but by then Massa was on his tail, and the pair touched wheels on the last corner before Hamilton edged home.

"That's as close as it is going to get ... it was crazy," Hamilton said. "Unfortunately at the end, with 21 laps to the end or something, I had to save fuel. Massively. So I had to give Webber the position and then the last lap they said 'okay, now you can push' and I was like 'oh, thanks' after I've let him [Massa] catch me up. But I was not giving him that position, no way."

The instructions to ease off did not go down well. "I can think of the guys in front, Ferraris and Red Bulls, they didn't look like they had to save fuel so that's not a positive on our side. I want to make sure I'm always there and not too much or too little, I don't want to save too much fuel and make sure I can still keep my position."

He was full of praise for the home crowd. "I've never known so many people here at Silverstone. The support we have here is far beyond any driver will get anywhere else, I believe. I am massively thankful for that. So I could feel them spurring me on and I had a good start, made some places up."

Asked on the BBC if he was worried his last-corner clash with Massa would land him in trouble with the stewards, he broke into a big grin. "I've got like a platinum card for the stewards, so I expect to be there … I'm actually going straight from here to the stewards - just sit there and wait - rather than go back and come back."

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