Lewis Hamilton says he is only human after making a rare mistake in a rollercoaster of an Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola on Sunday.
The error left the seven-time world champion staring at a rare retirement before recovering to fight back and finish second.
In a race that resembled a high-speed game of snakes and ladders, the Mercedes driver went from pole to second to a standstill, staring at the barriers and fearing his race was over, then 10th a lap down and back onto the podium by the end of the race.
It was, he said, like an afternoon from his youth when he would fight his way back through the field with “a dodgy old go-kart”.
In the end, the Briton also set the fastest lap as he went in hot pursuit of another victory and took a precious bonus point that kept him in the championship lead despite losing out to Red Bull rival and race winner Max Verstappen.
He says of the race: “We’re only human, so just that bit of a mistake was one to learn from.
“There was only one dry line and I guess I was in a bit too much of a hurry to get by everyone.”
Alan Baldwin | [email protected]