Bottas puncture and Vettel lock-up gifts Hamilton first win of 2018 as championship leader admits he was fortunate; Hamilton says he drove a "very untidy" race and that his performance "hurt"
Tuesday 11 December 2018 14:45, UK
Lewis Hamilton admits he was "really fortunate" to seal his first win of the season at a chaotic and incident-filled Azerbaijan GP, claiming he drove a "very untidy race".
The Mercedes driver has taken the world championship lead after a crazy finale in Baku, with Sebastian Vettel's lock-up and Valtteri Bottas' race-ending puncture gifting Hamilton victory.
Hamilton wins after Baku bedlam
Ricciardo and Verstappen apologise
Before those incidents Hamilton didn't seem to be on top form, failing to match Vettel's race pace while he also locked up and ran off-track on two occasions. And the Englishman insisted his team-mate deserved the victory.
"That was really quite an emotional race," said Hamilton, who was third ahead of the late race restart following the Red Bull collision. "Valtteri did such an exceptional job today and really deserved to have the win.
"Sebastian did a great job so I was really, really fortunate today. It feels a bit odd to be up here but I've got to take it.
"I didn't give up, I kept pushing but definitely a very untidy race from me."
The Azerbaijan GP victory ended a six-race win drought for Hamilton's and leaves the reigning world champion four points clear of title rival Vettel in the standings.
But Hamilton still couldn't be completely happy, adding that he struggled and his performance "hurt".
"The Ferraris were out and out faster than us all weekend," Hamilton told Sky F1's Rachel Brookes. "Valtteri did an exceptional job, really after that Safety Car he deserved to win that race - he'd done everything he needed to.
"I was thinking to myself 'I'm going to try and get him'but this is a great one-two for the team'. But then things shifted and I came out ahead so it was very, very mixed emotions.
"One, I was grateful for the opportunity to win a grand prix but secondly, on the other side, feeling that I didn't drive the way I normally drive so that hurts a little bit within my heart - because it's not like I'm focusing anywhere else.
"I struggled this weekend."
Vettel insisted he had "no regrets" about his attempted overtake for the lead into Turn One which eventually ruined his chances of victory, with new championship leader Hamilton now looking forward to another title battle
"I've got some work to do but I still can go home on a high note and take this hopefully to the next race," he added.
"It is going to be a tough season. Today was another example of that."
How a chaotic end to the Azerbaijan GP unfolded
Lap 41: Ricciardo and Verstappen collide. The Safety Car is deployed, triggering pit stops for Bottas, Vettel and Hamilton for ultrasofts with Bottas in the lead.
Lap 44: Romain Grosjean crashes out behind the Safety Car after weaving to warm up his tyres.
Lap 47: The race resumes with Bottas in the lead. Vettel locks up at Turn One trying to overtake Bottas and loses three places in the process.
Lap 48: Hamilton takes the lead after Bottas suffers a puncture running over the debris on the main straight
Lap 51: Hamilton crosses the line for victory ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Force India's Sergio Perez.
