Kubica pleased despite mistakes

The Renault driver finished in third place after a superb drive in changeable weather conditions. However, he had held second place at the end of the first lap and had a major moment at Eau Rouge next time round, losing second place to Jenson Button's McLaren in the process.

"On the second lap through Eau Rouge I saw Lewis [Hamilton] going wide, so I was very wide also and tried to make apex in order to not lose speed," said the Polish driver.

"But then I lost the car completely; first to the left and then to the right. I was lucky to continue, and I lost a position to Jenson too.

"Then on the restart [after the first safety car period] I had poor grip, locked my wheels; fronts and then rears."

Kubica was passed by Sebastian Vettel for third at La Source on lap four after sliding wide through the corner, but was handed back second after the pair ahead of him came together.

He then fell to third again when pitting for wets late on as he overshot his pit box and ceded a place to Mark Webber's Red Bull.

But he believes he could have been easily clear of Webber had he not been bottled up behind Button early on.

"We were struck behind Jenson, I think with better pace [than him] and we then managed quite good speed and car felt quite good," he added.