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SILVERSTONE, England - A thrilling drive by Lewis Hamilton rescued red-faced McLaren from total embarrassment in front of a home crowd on Sunday when he battled home fourth in an extraordinary British Grand Prix.
He started the race 10th on the grid
On a day of pit-stop bungles, strategic errors and miscalculated fuel loads, Hamilton's luckless team mate and compatriot Jenson Button was forced to retire after a botched pit-stop caused his front right wheel to fall off at the end of the pits lane.
Button looked on course for a first podium finish in his home race until he was released from his third pit-stop without a wheel nut securing his front right wheel.
MCLAREN'S WOES
Hamilton, who was hit by a strategic mistake during qualifying that left him 10th on the grid, had raced to second place before he was told he did not have enough fuel to finish. He had to slow down and only grabbed fourth by battling with Felipe Massa's Ferrari and banging wheels at the final corner.
Hamilton said: "That was as close as it's going to get. It was crazy! But first of all, the team did a fantastic job with all the pit stops. Coming here today, knowing the support we had - well, I've never seen so many people here.
"The support is far greater than any other driver gets anywhere else. I felt it spurring me on.
"I had a good start, made some places up but unfortunately towards the end I had to save fuel. I had to give Webber his position then on the last lap they said now you can push, and I was like 'thanks, after I'd let him catch me up', but no way was I going to let him have that position."
Asked if he expected to be called before the stewards for the contact with Massa, he laughed.
"WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES"
"You know I've got a platinum card for going there! Maybe I'll go straight there now to save time and just wait."
Button, upset and wearing dark glasses, said: "When I headed out as I turned up the hill, the wheel came off. I stopped immediately. It's very disappointing. We all make mistakes and you always hope they never happen.
"It's disappointing also because it was in front of a home crowd. I enjoyed the race and had a good couple of battles out there. I had good pace before we stopped.
"I had caught up with Sebastian (Vettel), Mark and Fernando (Alonso, the race winner) when they peeled off. It was all looking pretty sweet.
"I think I would have come out alongside Webber. I think you'd have to say anyone with pace near the end had the pace for the podium and I definitely had pace."
He added: "The guy on the front right lost a wheel nut and he went to get another one, but as he turned I think the lollipop man thought we were good to go. I am so sorry for the fans that we couldn't do more. This seems to be the way of it at British Grands Prix for me."
He started the race 10th on the grid
On a day of pit-stop bungles, strategic errors and miscalculated fuel loads, Hamilton's luckless team mate and compatriot Jenson Button was forced to retire after a botched pit-stop caused his front right wheel to fall off at the end of the pits lane.
Button looked on course for a first podium finish in his home race until he was released from his third pit-stop without a wheel nut securing his front right wheel.
MCLAREN'S WOES
Hamilton, who was hit by a strategic mistake during qualifying that left him 10th on the grid, had raced to second place before he was told he did not have enough fuel to finish. He had to slow down and only grabbed fourth by battling with Felipe Massa's Ferrari and banging wheels at the final corner.
Hamilton said: "That was as close as it's going to get. It was crazy! But first of all, the team did a fantastic job with all the pit stops. Coming here today, knowing the support we had - well, I've never seen so many people here.
GUTTED: Jenson Button looks on from behind a fence after losing a wheel following a pit stop during Sunday's British Grand Prix.
"I had a good start, made some places up but unfortunately towards the end I had to save fuel. I had to give Webber his position then on the last lap they said now you can push, and I was like 'thanks, after I'd let him catch me up', but no way was I going to let him have that position."
Asked if he expected to be called before the stewards for the contact with Massa, he laughed.
"WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES"
"You know I've got a platinum card for going there! Maybe I'll go straight there now to save time and just wait."
Button, upset and wearing dark glasses, said: "When I headed out as I turned up the hill, the wheel came off. I stopped immediately. It's very disappointing. We all make mistakes and you always hope they never happen.
"It's disappointing also because it was in front of a home crowd. I enjoyed the race and had a good couple of battles out there. I had good pace before we stopped.
"I had caught up with Sebastian (Vettel), Mark and Fernando (Alonso, the race winner) when they peeled off. It was all looking pretty sweet.
"I think I would have come out alongside Webber. I think you'd have to say anyone with pace near the end had the pace for the podium and I definitely had pace."
He added: "The guy on the front right lost a wheel nut and he went to get another one, but as he turned I think the lollipop man thought we were good to go. I am so sorry for the fans that we couldn't do more. This seems to be the way of it at British Grands Prix for me."