Lewis Hamilton frustrated after costly spin: 'I didn't get that information'

Lewis Hamilton has detailed that he didn't get information about track conditions prior to his high-speed spin in Sao Paulo.

In the closing stages of the race, rainfall began to hit the circuit, creating a headache for the teams and the drivers.

However, it quickly became apparent that a switch back to the intermediate compound would be needed after slicks were used in the mid-part of the race following a wet start.

Hamilton was one of the last drivers to make the stop for intermediates and did so after suffering a spin on the climb up the hill after Turn 12.

Although he was able to avoid terminal damage, it cost Hamilton valuable time.

"It was so gutting, honestly," Hamilton told media including RacingNews365.

"In those greasy conditions, I was quicker than Lawson. I was catching him by a second a lap, and they said [on] the previous lap, 'It's going to stay consistent like this'.

"I was like, 'okay, I can stay out in this'. Just before the pit entry, they said 'box, box' and I was just behind Lawson, so I just pressed overtake.

"I thought the conditions were staying the same. So I was like, 'okay, I'm not going to stop this now, I'm good'.

"I get to Turn 1, and it's drenched, so I didn't get that information. We were unfortunate with that."

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Hamilton 'lucky' to avoid wall contact

Hamilton went on to end the race in ninth place, while team-mate Charles Leclerc crossed the line in seventh.

The result was Hamilton's worst finish of the year, bar his retirement at the Spanish Grand Prix.

However, the seven-time champion knows he was lucky not to add to his retirement tally.

"I was just trailing around trying to bring the car back, I was lucky I wasn't in the wall," he said.

"Sorry to the team on that, but overall I think the team did a really great job this weekend. We didn't have the pace we wanted."