Tyre issue didn't deflate Hamilton's fighting spirit

SEPANG: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton's tyre gamble went awry, but instead of feeling deflated, the Briton stuck to his strategy.

The seven-time world champion battled from 18th place to third at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia in a chaotic, rain-hit race today.

The weather played tricks with Hamilton, but he rolled with the punches that a storm threw at him.

After the start of the race was delayed by rain, Hamilton opted for slicks instead of intermediate tyres. But this led to his car struggling to keep pace with others, and soon his team were asking him to come in for a tyre change.

But Hamilton decided to battle on while the track became drier. Eventually he found himself finishing behind Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli.

"As a team, we ended up taking that soft (tyre) and at the end of the pit lane, these two (Verstappen and Antonelli) took off their (tyre) blankets and my heart just sank, because I knew straight away that we were in trouble," Hamilton said.

"As we pulled out, all the spray came out the back of Max's car and I was like, 'Okay, I'm done. My race is really in trouble'

"We made the decision to live with it. As everyone was overtaking me, they (Ferrari) said, 'Should we stop?' I said, 'No, we've already waited another 26 seconds. What's the difference'."

"I just waited for the track to dry and once it did, it felt good that I was catching people. The car felt great. Then after that, really good pit stops from my guys in the garage.

"And then a good strategy. So for us to get back to the podium, I never thought that that's what was going to be the case. I'm really, really grateful."