“I really dislike going backwards, but we still go away with some
points.
“There are many races ahead of us and we still need to keep pushing. My
start was one of worst starts I’ve had in a long time.
“I don’t understand why it happens when two guys next to me and those
behind us got perfect starts.
“I was fortunate not to get caught up in the crash. We do thousands of
starts, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Hamilton was unable to keep up with Webber or German Nico Rosberg of Mercedes
at the start and in the opening stint – and was then passed by old rival
Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari in the pit-stops.
He was also passed ‘off the track’ by defending double world champion
Sebastian Vettel following his Red Bull crew’s fast pit-stop that allowed
him to rejoin ahead of Hamilton, the German having executed an alternative
strategy to perfection after starting ninth.
With McLaren team-mate and compatriot Jenson Button retiring eight laps from
the finish, the result signalled not only disappointment for Hamilton, but
his team.
They have not had a podium finish since the Chinese Grand Prix in April and
appear to have lost all their early-season momentum.
“I think the team have definitely got some work to do because we are
falling behind race by race. The others are picking up some serious pace,”
he said.
“If we’re not lucky then it will fall away from us.”
He also grumbled about yet another costly pit stop.
“I don’t know how long my pit-stop was, but I lost quite a lot of time.
I just wasn’t able to really keep up with Alonso, and Sebastian got me
through his pit-stop and then it didn’t seem possible to overtake.”