Lewis Hamilton admitted that tyres were the difference after finishing second behind McLaren team-mate Jenson Button in China.
Hamilton admits Button made better choice
Lewis Hamilton admitted that tyres were the difference after finishing second behind McLaren team-mate Jenson Button in the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.
As was the case in Australia last month, Button made a crucial early call on tyres and elected to stay out on slicks despite rain which hit the Shanghai International Circuit at the start of the race.
In contrast, Hamilton made a late call to pit for intermediate tyres but soon found himself making another stop for slicks as the weather eased.
That second stop ended with Hamilton and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel emerging from the pitlane side-by-side - an incident which resulted in an official reprimand for both and typified another action-packed outing for the 2008 world champion.
"I had quite an eventful race," said Hamilton. "Congratulations to Jenson, he did an incredible job and made a better choice on tyres.
"It was tough at the beginning, the weather was not easy for making the call to change tyres. I chose very late when I was halfway around the corner and clearly it was not the right choice.
"We both did a tremendous job, and it's down to the awesome job the team are doing. We are working very well and it's great for the team."
Battle
Hamilton has endured frustrating qualifying sessions in each of the last three grands prix but has certainly proved his credentials on race day.
He engaged in a fascinating battle with Michael Schumacher at one stage, with the pair slipstreaming down the long back straight for three successive laps before Hamilton eventually found a way past.
"It was not easy. It took ages to get past him," said Hamilton, who passed the seven-times world champion again later in the race. "We had a good battle but once I got past I was gone.
"I just felt every time I made up places, somehow I would lose them again. It was a very, very hard race but I am very happy with the result. To climb up to second was a great result and I am very happy."
Hamilton, who has moved to joint third in the drivers' championship alongside Fernando Alonso, was the first to congratulate his team-mate after the pair had taken the chequered flag.
He added: "I am very happy that we have got a one-two and hopefully that is the first of many."
