Hamilton frustrated to have to save fuel during 'crazy' British GP

The McLaren driver finished in fourth position after having to save fuel during the latter part of the race.

Massa caught up with Hamilton on the final lap, and the duo went side by side at the exit of the final corner, making contact before Massa went off track and crossed the finish line 0.024 seconds behind his rival.

"That's as close as it is going to get. It was crazy," said Hamilton. "First of all the team did a fantastic job with all the pitstops and really today, coming here knowing the support we had - I've never known so many people here at Silverstone.

"The support we have here is far beyond any driver will get anywhere else, I believe. Massively thankful for that. So I could feel them spurring me on and I had a good start, made some places up.

"Unfortunately at the end, with 21 laps to the end or something, I had to save fuel. Massively. So I had to give Webber the position and then the last lap they said 'okay, now you can push' and I was like 'oh, thanks' after I've let him [Massa] catch me up. But I was not giving him that position, no way."

Hamilton admitted he was frustrated to have to save fuel during the race, as he was running ahead of Mark Webber, who finished on the podium.

"Yeah, because you are always trying to drive to the fine line and of course I can think of the guys in front, Ferraris and Red Bulls, they didn't look like they had to save fuel so that's not a positive on our side.

"They tell me go to this delta, but I want to make sure I'm always there and not too much or too little, I don't want to save too much fuel and make sure I can still keep my position."

The Briton also joked that he expected to be called by the stewards following his record in the last few races.

"I've got like a platinum card for the stewards, so I expect to be there! I'm actually going straight from here to the stewards - just sit there and wait - rather than go back and come back."

Team-mate Jenson Button endured another disappointing British GP after being forced to retire when his right front tyre was not attached properly following a pitstop.

"As I turned up the hill, the wheel came off," Button said. "I stopped immediately. Very disappointing. We all make mistakes, we all hope they never happen.

"Disappointing also because it was in front of the home crowd - good couple of battles out there and the pace was very good before my stop. It was all looking pretty sweet and I think I would have come out alongside Mark [Webber], if not ahead of Mark, when I made my pitstop.

"So much could have happened and there's always the possibility of a podium when you are that far up and the pace is good."