Hamilton happy despite team's error

Lewis Hamilton has admitted a potential Italian Grand Prix victory ended up turning into a damage limitation exercise.

Hamilton again proved to be the master of the wet conditions during the first half of a stunning race at Monza.

Starting from a career-low 15th on the grid, the Briton battled his way through the field, and by the time of what he thought would be his only stop on lap 27 he was running second.

But remaining on extreme-wet tyres, based on an inaccurate weather forecast by the team, proved costly for Hamilton.

The 23-year-old was forced to pit again nine laps later to take on intermediate tyres, culminating in him finishing seventh.

One consolation for Hamilton is that world title rival Felipe Massa ended up in the place he started from on the grid, sixth.

It means with four races remaining, and pending McLaren's appeal into the penalty handed out in the Belgian Grand Prix, just one point separates the duo.

Explaining the tyre call that cost him, as it did in qualifying the day before, Hamilton said: "I was told it was going to rain, so I just went with what the team told me.

"Considering the position I was in, if I'd chosen intermediates at the first stop, because I only needed one, I would have finished further up.

"I know at that stage I wouldn't have had a problem if I had gone with inters.

"But there was no chance of staying out on extremes. In the end it was damage limitation.

"I still had a great race. I passed eight others, including Kimi (Raikkonen), which wasn't easy because it was very difficult out there.

"What happened was a bit of a shame, but I have still come away with my lead intact."

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