Hamilton laments contact with Massa

Hamilton had been down in third on the run to the first chicane, but managed to outbrake Massa around the outside and then went to have a look at the inside of his teammate Alonso for turn two.

However, a small tap from Massa sent him running wide across the chicane and left teammate Alonso free to race on in the lead.

"I didn't get the best getaway and I saw Felipe shoot past," said Hamilton. "I outbraked both of them and I was very close to taking Fernando.

"But Felipe clipped me and sent me over the second part of the chicane, so I lost that opportunity.

"Then I had a second opportunity at the restart (following the safety car), but Fernando made sure to pull enough of a gap at the last corner."

Hamilton did not have enough pace to challenge Alonso after that, and his chances of victory were all but finished off when he pitted early at his second stop.

"We got to the middle part and I had flat spotted my tyres. We had some vibration so I pitted earlier than scheduled because I wasn't sure if that vibration would be something like Turkey. So I played it safe and bagged the points."

Hamilton also relished his brave overtaking move past Raikkonen after that second stop.

"We came out and knew that Kimi would pass me, so the key was optimising pit entry, exit plus in and out laps. I came out and thought he was too far ahead.

"I knew I had two laps maximum before the (soft) tyres went off. He was on the hard tyres but I pulled out some really great laps, the tyres and car were great. I had an opportunity and made sure I stuck it in there and got it.

"I wanted to do it for the team. I know how hard they have been working. We got a 1-2 in qualifying and to do it in the race puts the icing on the cake."