Lewis Hamilton did his best to stay positive after a costly mistake by his McLaren mechanics in Sunday’s European Grand Prix scuppered his chances of victory.
Hamilton was on course for his second straight win of the season in Valencia but a miscall by his McLaren mechanics at his second pit stop meant that his tyres were not ready.
The time lost getting the tyres ready gifted the win to Brawn driver Rubens Barrichello, however, Hamilton brushed off the mistake and praised the team for their efforts.
“These things happen, it very rarely happens, and it may even only be the second time it has happened. Regardless, we need to carry on pushing,†the defending world champion said.
“We win and lose together, you know. It has been a tremendous effort to get us here, so we can t take second place for granted. It s disappointing not to win because we have had an extraordinary pace in the last few races, and I still believe it was a tremendous effort.â€
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh admitted that the team had made an “operational error†by failing to have Hamilton s tyres ready when he came in.
