Monaco GP: Hamilton 'can't express' feeling after Mercedes mistake

The reigning world champion had the race under control, leading comfortably from Nico Rosberg until the race was neutralised following a crash between Max Verstappen and Romain Grosjean.

Mercedes thought Hamilton had enough of a gap back to Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel to make a precautionary pitstop, but he emerged from the pits behind both of the Germans in third place, handing victory to Rosberg.

"I can't really express the way I'm feeling at the moment so I won't attempt to," said Hamilton.

"To be honest it happened so fast I don't remember. You rely on your team."

Hamilton said he initially thought the cars behind him had pitted, so he assumed he was called in to cover off the fact his pursuers would be on fresher tyres when the race resumed after the safety car.

"I saw a screen and it looked like the team was out [in the pits]," he added. "It looked like Nico had pitted.

"I thought the guys behind were pitting, so when the team said stay out, I said the tyres were dropping temperature, and I was assuming that these guys would be on options and I would be on the harder tyre, so they said to pit.

"I did that and came in thinking with full confidence the others had done the same."

Hamilton said the lost victory was particularly painful because of how special the Monaco Grand Prix is to him.

"This race has been close to my heart for many years," he added.

"It was a great feeling in the race, I had so much pace. I didn't have to push too much.

"I could have doubled the lead if I needed. I'm grateful for that pace and I'll come back to fight another day - at the moment I can't think of anything else."