Hamilton says a Ferrari tyre call cost him a shot at victory in Malaysia

[Patrick93]

Lewis Hamilton finished third in the rain-hit Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, but believes a different tyre call could have won him the race, GPFans reports. After a lengthy weather delay, eight drivers, Hamilton among them, started on dry soft tyres instead of intermediates. The gamble failed straight away. He lost 12 seconds to leader Antonelli in the first sector alone and was down in 18th by lap nine, more than 80 seconds behind

A Safety Car then bunched up the field, he pitted for fresh tyres and fought his way back to the podium. Asked whether he could have won on a different strategy, Hamilton said simply: "Yeah, yeah." He added that he was grateful to be back on the podium, but "definitely didn't expect to get back to be P3." He also praised the pit crew and said the Safety Car "was a blessing, enabling me to get to the podium"

It is a classic Hamilton weekend in some ways. A difficult start, a strategy that did not work and then a drive through the field that showed his class. Coming from 18th and over 80 seconds down to finish on the podium takes skill as well as luck. At his age, many expected his speed to have faded by now, but drives like this suggest otherwise

Hamilton is third in the championship on 214 points, 22 behind Russell and 106 behind Antonelli. His time at Ferrari has been up and down, with flashes of brilliance and plenty of frustration over strategy. This weekend seemed to capture both sides at once. Charles Leclerc made the same tyre choice and finished fourth

Was starting on slicks a reasonable gamble or a clear mistake? And could Hamilton still finish second in the championship?

Lewis Hamilton claims Ferrari error cost him Bahrain GP victorywww.gpfans.com