Formula One news

Hamilton played it safe for points

Lewis Hamilton revealed that he played it safe in the early stages of the Italian Grand Prix when he felt a vibration in his car and feared it might be another tyre failure.

"I felt a vibration like in Turkey early in the race so I thought I'd just better pit to bag the points and not take a risk going an extra lap," said Hamilton who could not match Alonso's pace.

Hamilton tussled with Massa off the start line and into the first corner. "I obviously didn't get the best start from the dirty side of the grid and saw Felipe go past," Hamilton explained. "I out-braked him and Fernando and was close to taking Fernando too, but Felipe clipped me and sent me across the chicane so I lost that opportunity."

After his second pit stop Hamilton emerged in third, behind Raikkonen but within two laps, took a daring lunge up the inside of turn one to take second.

"With Kimi I just had to push hard and optimise my in and out-laps and knew I had a couple of laps after my stop before the tyres would go off and he was on hard tyres so I had an opportunity and had to make sure I stuck it in there," he added.

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• 28 Aug.
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• 27 Aug.
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• 26 Aug.
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• 25 Aug.
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• 24 Aug.
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  • Another pointless day for Honda
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  • Disasterous day for Red Bull

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