29/08/2011
NEWS STORY
Having watched a replay of the accident which put him out of the Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton holds his hands up and admits it was his fault.
In the immediate wake of the incident which saw the McLaren driver crash out of the race as he battled with Kamui Kobayashi for fourth following his pit stop, the Englishman was in no doubt as to where the blame lay, though he wasn't quite so sure of the identity of the other driver.
When asked what happened, shortly after the incident, Hamilton told reporters: "I'm not really quite sure to be honest. I just remember hitting the wall pretty hard.
"It's a bit unfortunate for the team, we were in a good position and as far as I was concerned I was ahead of whoever it was I was racing and then I just got hit by them and that was my race over. That's motor racing."
In the team's post-race press release, now aware of the identity of his rival, he was still convinced that it was not his fault.
"I was in a good position and I'd already got past one of the Ferraris, but then I was hit by Kamui," he said. I don't really know what happened, but I hit the wall pretty hard and my race was immediately over. I was ahead, so I don't know why I got hit."
However, the Englishman later tweeted: "After watching the replay, I realize it was my fault today 100 percent. I didn't give Kobayashi enough room though I thought I was past."
In a follow up he tweeted: "Apologies to Kamui and to my team. The team deserves better from me. Best wishes, Lewis."
Sauber, which subsequently re-tweeted the McLaren driver’s apology, later thanked the Englishman, describing his admission of guilt as a "very fair gesture".