The Brackley-based team were on course for a one-two finish following their
qualifying lock-out of the front row.
For the opening 29 laps all was going to plan as Rosberg led Hamilton until an
accident involving Felipe Massa brought out the safety car for the first
time this season.
It prompted a flurry of pit stops, with the Mercedes duo the last to change
tyres and with Hamilton the loser as he dropped from second to fourth behind
Red Bull duo Vettel and Mark Webber.
In order to avoid double stacking directly behind Rosberg, the 28-year-old
slowed and tried to maintain a gap he believed would help, only for it to
backfire.
“I wasn’t great under the safety car. The double pit stop didn’t help and the
safety car didn’t help,” said Hamilton.
“It wasn’t the team’s fault, it was my mistake. I was told to have a
six-second gap and perhaps I had a bit more than six seconds, so I lost out
massively.
“I slowed down far too much. When I came round into the pit lane Nico had
already done his stop and was gone, so that was really my fault.
“I apologise to the team if I lost them any points because without the safety
car I think we could have had a one-two, so (I was) a little unfortunate.
“The win was obviously good for the team. I hope I can contribute points-wise
and give them a one-two at some stage.
“I just have to keep working harder because the whole weekend was a missed
opportunity.”
Lurking in the background, however, is the threat of heavy sanctions from the
World Motor Sport Council should the FIA decide to pursue a case against
Mercedes for conducting a secret tyre test with Pirelli.
With in-season testing banned, Mercedes face the possibility of being fined,
points deducted, banned for a race, or even excluded from the championship.
Addressing the issue, Hamilton said: “We were required to do some work, we did
some work, it was good fun.
“Right now I’m not concerned about it, that’s for the team to worry about.
“I just have to focus on myself and try and get my act together.”
Edited by Thom Gibbs