Lewis Hamilton: World champion reveals HUGE Bahrain Grand Prix regret
LEWIS HAMILTON believes he might have challenged for second, or even first, at the Bahrain Grand Prix had he not been held up at the start of the race.
Lewis Hamilton's triple overtake at the Bahrain GP
The Mercedes driver started in ninth following a gearbox penalty and a disappointing qualifying in which he finished only fourth, 0.262seconds behind pole-sitter and title rival Sebastian Vettel.
But Hamilton was up into fourth by lap nine of the race after passing Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Nico Huldenberg, Kevin Magnussen and Pierre Gasly - coupled with the retirements of Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.
Yet given it took him until the start of the fifth lap before his first passing manoeuvre, Hamilton believes he should have gained ground quicker as he rued an inability to catch up to team-mate Valtteri Bottas and race-winner Sebastian Vettel as they tussled out in front towards the climax of a dramatic Grand Prix.
The four-time world champion said: “It was a difficult one because, ideally, I’d have got past those four cars earlier on.
“I got stuck with the traffic and obviously had the collision with Max [Verstappen] which really nearly took me out of the race.
Lewis Hamilton feels he could have got more from the Bahrain Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton finished third in a race he felt was all about "damage limitation"
Lewis Hamilton with an impressive third-place trophy
Really the race was lost at the start of the race, partly through me making the wrong decision at turn one position-wise and then after that not being aggressive enough.
“I just feel lucky that it didn’t take me out of the race. That’s definitely obviously a frustrating scenario, I didn’t know if the car was damaged.
“Then I was behind these guys for ages so it wasn’t until lap eight or nine that I actually got past them but the guys ahead were too far ahead.
“Really the race was lost at the start of the race, partly through me making the wrong decision at turn one position-wise and then after that not being aggressive enough.
“But you know it was a long, long race and I wanted to see the whole race.
“Anyway, we live to fight another day and I still got good points. I’m really happy with third. I just wish there was another five laps because I would’ve caught them.”
Lewis Hamilton finished behind Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian Vettel
Lewis Hamilton clashed with Max Verstappen early on in the race
Max Verstappen bursts tyre trying to pass Hamilton
Hamilton and Verstappen came together at the first corner on lap two, the incident puncturing the Dutchman’s tire and resulting in damage that forced him to retire.
The 20-year-old felt that Hamilton was in the wrong for the collision, declaring that he gave him enough space.
But Hamilton responded: “I don’t know, I’d have to watch it.
“But I mean I was on the edge of the track I’m pretty sure. I need to watch it back but in the heat of the moment it didn’t seem that it was the case [that I was at fault].
“I don’t really know what to say. It was an unnecessary contact, there was really no need at that early stage in the race. But these things do happen.”