• Korean Grand Prix

Second 'a great result' - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton congratulates Fernando Alonso © Getty Images

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• Race:
• Korean Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Lewis Hamilton

• Teams:
• McLaren

Lewis Hamilton said it was still a great result to finish second behind Fernando Alonso and remain firmly in the title hunt.

Hamilton benefitted from the retirements of both Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel to move up to third in the drivers' standings, 21 points behind Alonso.

"I think it was still a great result and I'm very happy with it," said Hamilton. "Of course some small mistakes but it was very tricky in the conditions out there I think Fernando did a fantastic job and they generally had a little more grip than us today.

"My tyres were shot at the end so it was really about bringing the car home and score as many points. So it is good for the championship and good for the team so I hope that in the next two races we can have some better results."

Several drivers were complaining that conditions were too difficult to start to race as the cars lapped behind the safety car but Hamilton was not one of them.

"At the start, I just wanted to get out there. I love racing, and I thought it was safe enough - 17 laps spent running behind the Safety Car isn't good for the spectators, and it's not fun for the drivers either. Additionally, I felt it had easily dried up enough for us to start racing - so I'm glad we did.

"It was very tricky out there, particularly at the end. It was pitch black, I couldn't see much and my tyres were finished. It was a big surprise to see both Red Bulls go out. Fernando [Alonso] drove really well, but I'm very happy to have scored some points after a couple of disappointing races."

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