Lewis Hamilton explains costly British GP jump start

Lewis Hamilton has detailed what caused his jump start on the opening lap of the British Grand Prix.

Hamilton was judged to have moved before the start lights went out and was issued a five-second time penalty, which he served under a pit stop.

The penalty dropped him behind George Russell when they both made their pit stops, costing Hamilton valuable track time as he was then embroiled in a scrap against his former team-mate.

When asked to explain what happened at the start, Hamilton told media including RacingNews365: “My hand just moved just like that. 

“Don't really know where it went. I didn't mean to do it. I didn't even tell my hand to do it. But anyway, it happens.”

Towards the end of the race, when a safety car was deployed, Hamilton pitted for fresher tyres but dropped behind Russell once more under the expectation that the race would resume and he would have the chance to overtake.

However, when the safety car was kept out until the chequered flag, Hamilton was forced to settle for third place, having been running in second prior to his stop.

Team-mate Charles Leclerc won the grand prix, with Hamilton pointing out the Monegasque was enjoying a much stronger car balance.

“Not that great,” Hamilton said, assessing his race. “Charles did a mega job today, fully deserves the win. 

“From my side, pretty bad from the get-go. I jumped the start, which I have done very few times in the 380-odd races that I've done. 

“And then just balance-wise, I noticed Charles went up on his balance, I think compared to qualifying, added more wing, and I felt the car was really oversteer with the diff settings that we had had. 

“I took out wing and then I had the biggest understeer at the beginning of the race. So, he just pulled away from me. 

“I just couldn't even turn the car until halfway kind of through that first stint, I managed to start turning the car a little bit better with some diff changes, but by then the gap was already huge. 

“And then the five-second at the stop, and then there's just one thing after the other.”