Following the comeback of comebacks, Lewis Hamilton admits to error that cost him Imola win, insisting that he's only human.

In the moments before the incident involving his teammate, Valtteri Bottas and George Russell, Lewis Hamilton appeared to throw it all away when he made an uncharacteristic mistake at Tosa and headed off into the gravel.

"So sorry guys," was the brief radio message.

For agonising moments it appeared the seven-time world champion had either beached the car in the kitty litter, or stalled it as the car remained stationary, pointing at the barrier. However, he eventually found reverse and was able to get going again.

Though he had dropped five positions and was now a lap down on race leader, Max Verstappen, the red-flag that followed the Bottas/Russell clash subsequently allowed Hamilton to turn his race around again, to dramatic effect.

Nonetheless, the Briton admits that it was a needless, and almost very costly mistake.

"We're only human," he subsequently told reporters, "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.

"I remember just sitting there, looking at the barrier and I refused to think that the race was over. I refused to believe that the race was done. I could have obviously just turned the car off and got out but I'm grateful that I didn't, it's an amazing lesson to be sent and to experience."

At the restart the Mercedes driver was ninth, but over the course of the remaining laps he picked off the opposition one-by-one, Raikkonen, Stroll, Ricciardo, Sainz, Leclerc and Norris.

"I'm just grateful I could get going again and get back into the race," admitted Hamilton. "It's not how you fall. It's how you get up."

Check out our Sunday gallery from Imola, here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by trackrecords, 30/04/2021 8:56

"Kenji: Russell was going to put in a startling performance no matter which car he drove - as long as it wasn't that Williams!"

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2. Posted by SexyLadyRacer, 22/04/2021 11:55

"Sir Lewis Hamilton's F1 records and performances when he's in inferior F1 cars throughout his 15 year F1 career, and also in lower categories, SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!
What have you or anyone else who dislike him for one obvious reason achieved in motor racing?

Max Verstappen has the fastest and most dominant F1 car on the grid this season, but I will openly state here that LEWIS HAMILTON WILL WIN HIS 8TH F1 WORLD TITLE THIS SEASON!
Although Red Bull could win the Constructor's Championship due to Bottas' poor performances!

Btw Wishing bad things for Lewis Hamilton because he's . will always end with extremely bad karma to the person wishing that! "

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3. Posted by kenji, 22/04/2021 0:46

"I think that what we are witnessing ATM is that when the GOAT has to face a more equitable array of fast drivers in fast cars he is somewhat exposed. Hamilton is good, very good in fact, there is no doubt about that, but he's been built into something that he's not IMO, as witnessed by Russell's drive last year! That was devastating for his dedicated followers. It's one thing having the fastest car on the planet at your disposal, being protected by your team from the other side of the garage, driving so far out in front that you don't actually have to race anyone and having to face competition for the first time in many years. I just hope that we'll see other teams reach higher levels of performance that will enable them to join the 'racing' at the front. Now these are simply my opinions and no one has to share them. The 'woke' brigade blag on about 'diversity' well this is an example of that mantra, a 'diversity' of opinions. Roll on Portimao."

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4. Posted by SexyLadyRacer, 21/04/2021 4:58

"People wishing and hoping just one driver, Lewis Hamilton, do badly every race weekend for like 15 years is really really sad!
Must be extremely frustrating for some that Sir Lewis Hamilton has already achieved so much, and about to achieve even more, luck or not!

All great drivers in the history of F1, from Fangio, Moss, Stewart, Hill, Prost, Schumacher and Hamilton had the right ratios when racing on track, of talents and skill - 99.9% - and luck - 0.1%! "

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5. Posted by kenji, 21/04/2021 4:35

"The only reason Hamilton finished up where he did was that he was able to 'unlap' himself under the red flag. otherwise he'd be way down the back where he deserved to be. At best he was lucky...."

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6. Posted by SexyLadyRacer, 21/04/2021 3:42

"Well Done Sir Lewis Hamilton, STILL YOU RISE!!
Everyone is impressed by your Pole position in an essentially slower car, and then even more amazed by turning the Race around to finish Second, when most drivers made more than one mistake in the Race!

Max Verstappen basically won the Race at the very first corner because the Red Bull car has more downforce and so it's much better in the wet! Also, there were two Red Bulls against one Mercedes so who do you block going down to the first corner? Extremely difficult for Hamilton to win if not almost impossible!
The other thing is that Verstappen didn't leave sufficient room for Hamilton into that first corner and should have been penalised for that collision which damaged Hamilton's car! Perhaps there would definitely be a penalty if it weren't for that it was the very first lap, or maybe not, since Verstappen don't usually get punished by the stewards!

This season's championship can be seen as essentially for Max Verstappen to lose since he now has the most dominant car on the grid! "

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7. Posted by kenji, 20/04/2021 23:43

"This is another example quoting, word for word, of others. This time it's Linda McMahon, an ex politico in the Trump admin' It's not how you fall..etc etc etc'. Yes it is. How you fall not only the identifies the causality of the incident but it's he catalyst for what follows, as a result. Another PR exercise."

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I'm only human, says Hamilton

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