Lewis Hamilton explains Max Verstappen 'distraction' after computer glitch

Lewis Hamilton has offered an insight into his qualifying incident with Max Verstappen during qualifying in Monaco.

The incident occurred during Q1 as Verstappen was forced to abandon his hot lap as he came across Hamilton at the top of the hill.

Both drivers managed to make it through to the next segment of qualifying, however it gained the attention of the stewards, who handed Hamilton a three-place grid drop.

Hamilton has stated the issue came about after Ferrari's computers indicated Verstappen was not on a push lap.

“I don't know if there's some sort of issue with the computer screen, it said that Max was on the lap, and then it disappeared and said he wasn't,” Hamilton told media including RacingNews365.

“That was the information they gave me. They told me he was on a lap. So I moved to the side. I was completely out of the way. 

“I guess for them, they realised he wasn't on a lap, they told me so I started to accelerate.

“I stayed fully to the left and I wasn't on the racing line - but of course it was distracting for Max.”

Hamilton ended the qualifying session in fourth place just hours after his final practice outing ended with a crash. 

The result marked his best result of the year over one lap for Ferrari, however he has now been bumped back to seventh on the starting grid.

As he continues to adjust to the car, the seven-time champion highlighted team-mate Charles Leclerc's experience with the team is helping him build an advantage in the intra-team battle.

“It's a much different car driving here than I've had for the last 12 years, but one I've really enjoyed driving,” he added. 

“Obviously, Charles has been driving this car, or at least, the way they set the car up here for the last six years. 

“He's fully the hits the ground [running] and he's he knows it like the back of his hand. This weekend has been a quick, steep learning curve, but I was quite happy with the recovery from the crash [in FP3].”