Hamilton: "Kind of glad Italian GP finished behind the safety car"
F1 News
Lewis Hamilton is glad the Italian Grand Prix finished behind the safety car. The Mercedes driver would've had to defend against two drivers who had fresher tyres, including Red Bull's Sergio Perez. In the end, Hamilton managed a top-five finish after starting from P19.
Hamilton impresses
Hamilton started the race from the back row of the grid because of an engine penalty. Mercedes were forced into taking a fourth engine with his third still being fixed after a crash with Fernando Alonso in Belgium. Hamilton made a great recovery drive working his way through the field and again proving that Mercedes have solid race pace.
"It was a good race. I didn't expect it. The guys were saying anywhere between 6th and 4th was possible. It felt a stretch to me," Hamilton told Sky Sports.
In Abu Dhabi 2021, the British driver led the race and look well on the way to winning his eighth World Championship title. But the race restarted with one lap to go and Verstappen made the move to win his first World Championship. The 2022 Italian Grand Prix ended with the safety car, as Hamilton had wished for in Abu Dhabi. This time, he is glad it happened.
"I am grateful to make my way through and get those points. At the end, the cars behind me had fresher tyres so kind of glad it finished behind the safety car," Hamilton added.