Ferrari says pit and traffic delays were not key factors in narrow Abu Dhabi defeat

Alonso lost valuable time at the second stop when he was held up briefly behind backmarker Daniel Ricciardo, and then had a slightly slower than ideal tyre change.

But even if that pitstop had been flawless, Ferrari does not believe that Alonso would have been able to prevent Hamilton taking the win.

Team principal Stefano Domenicali said: "For sure I have to say that the second place showed the performance that we had.

"When we were coming in it was unfortunate to have Ricciardo in front for the last two corners, and there, honestly, we lost a lot of time.

"We had a little issue on the pitstop but that was not the real issue - and on that, you cannot say anything. It was unfortunate.

"I have to say with the backmarkers it was not easy for everyone, not only for Felipe [Massa] - who had two in front of him fighting - which was not good and not acceptable. Then Lewis had the same issue with some backmarkers. So it was not easy for everyone.

"But, for sure, to have the last two corners behind the last car that was coming in on the same lap was really unfortunate.

"But the difference was made by Lewis when he had two very quick laps with the medium tyres straight away. He was able to pull out the gap and then, of course, he managed the situation."