Sorry Hamilton focuses on title fight
Lewis Hamilton was left apologising to his McLaren team following a first-lap crash of an Italian Grand Prix weekend to forget.
Hamilton admitted to making a mistake after qualifying with regard to his set-up after choosing the wrong path in comparison to team-mate Jenson Button.
"I made a good start, gained a position, got up to fourth, and at that moment perhaps I should have just stayed there for a while," said Hamilton.
"But I put my car up the inside of Felipe trying to get third, and that was probably a little bit too much.
"I was trying to position the car in a certain way, but I was too close to Felipe and his left rear clipped my right front.
"The car was damaged after that, and there was nothing I could do. You try your best, but some things just don't go your way.
"It's a shame, and I want to say sorry to the team.
"But the championship certainly isn't over, although I have to admit that days like this one don't help."
"It was a very tough race mentally, and it was tricky holding off the challenge from behind," said Button of Alonso.
"I spent the first half of the race either looking in my mirrors or at the TV screens to see where Fernando was.
"Maybe it was the wrong call to pit when we did, but the team felt the new prime (harder) tyres were faster than the options (softer).
"But I couldn't find any grip on the new tyres, and lost a little bit of time on them. When I saw Fernando emerge just ahead of me, I was very disappointed.
"Overall we didn't quite have the pace to win. But this weekend was definitely a good one.
"I scored some good points, and this second place is very useful for my world championship hopes.
"There's still everything to play for over the next five races."
Hamilton admitted to making a mistake after qualifying with regard to his set-up after choosing the wrong path in comparison to team-mate Jenson Button.
"I made a good start, gained a position, got up to fourth, and at that moment perhaps I should have just stayed there for a while," said Hamilton.
"But I put my car up the inside of Felipe trying to get third, and that was probably a little bit too much.
"I was trying to position the car in a certain way, but I was too close to Felipe and his left rear clipped my right front.
"The car was damaged after that, and there was nothing I could do. You try your best, but some things just don't go your way.
"It's a shame, and I want to say sorry to the team.
"But the championship certainly isn't over, although I have to admit that days like this one don't help."
"It was a very tough race mentally, and it was tricky holding off the challenge from behind," said Button of Alonso.
"I spent the first half of the race either looking in my mirrors or at the TV screens to see where Fernando was.
"Maybe it was the wrong call to pit when we did, but the team felt the new prime (harder) tyres were faster than the options (softer).
"But I couldn't find any grip on the new tyres, and lost a little bit of time on them. When I saw Fernando emerge just ahead of me, I was very disappointed.
"Overall we didn't quite have the pace to win. But this weekend was definitely a good one.
"I scored some good points, and this second place is very useful for my world championship hopes.
"There's still everything to play for over the next five races."
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