ART duo play down clash

Going into the Turn 10 tight right-hander for the final time, Premat attempted to outbrake Hamilton for the lead. It was not a clean pass, and as the pair accelerated, Hamilton was still ahead. But Premat tagged the rear of his car, spinning Hamilton.

"Under power I lost the back of the car a little and there was some contact," Premat said. "I am very sorry for this, but these things happen when you are running close."

Hamilton, who recovered to finish second, said: "I gave him some room. I was as far over to the right of the track as I could get. He obviously lost the rear and I felt a tap and I spun.

"There's no use in getting down about this. Second place is still a good result."

Second place moved Hamilton into the joint lead of the championship, level on 34 points with Nelson Piquet Jr, who finished fourth after a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pitlane.