Hamilton blames 'cruel luck' for Hockenheim fiasco

Hockenheim (Germany) July 23 (IANS/CMC):

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton has cursed his “cruel luck” after a puncture and then gearbox problems forced him to retire in the Formula One German Grand Prix won by Ferrari‘s Fernando Alonso.

The 27-year-old Hamilton started from the fourth row but picked up a puncture on the second lap which saw him slip back down the field, CMC reports.

He eventually limped out on the 58th lap as Alonso went on to take his third win of the season.

“My second-lap puncture was incredibly unfortunate. There was debris scattered across the full width of the track and I didn’t have any option other than to drive straight through it,” said Hamilton.

“What’s more frustrating is that, at the time, I was the eighth car through – so to be the one to get the puncture is just cruel luck. It was immediately clear that my car didn’t feel the same after the puncture.

“However, after a few laps, I was able to adapt my driving style, and the car had good pace during the middle stint.”

His teammate Jenson Button finished third but was promoted to second after World champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull was handed a 20-second penalty and demoted to third.

With the failure, Hamilton slipped to fifth in the drivers’ championship, 62 points adrift of leader Alonso with 154.