Hamilton 'hurts' over Baku performance despite winning

Despite victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton said his performance in Baku hurt "within my heart". Hamilton emerged unscathed from late madness, including a puncture for Valtteri Bottas from first place, to secure Mercedes' first win of 2018 and take top spot in the drivers' standings.

Hamilton had spent the vast part of the race unable to catch Sebastian Vettel, who looked set to convert pole position into a 50th grand-prix victory.

However, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen's wipeout prompted late drama, which ended with Hamilton cruising to a victory that had not looked remotely likely until the final two laps.

Hamilton offered sympathy to his team-mate and appeared in far from celebratory mood, despite sealing a first win in seven grands prix.

"I never give up," he told Sky Sports. "It's been a while since I was reminded of that lesson my Dad taught me years and years ago, but I kept going and kept pushing and things turned out the way they did. That's all come to the realisation of just how true that mindset needs to be and is.

Taking the big trophies home ????#DrivenByEachOther ???????? #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/uo4Bk3rWkM — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) April 29, 2018

"The Ferraris were out and out faster than us all weekend, Valtteri did an exceptional job, really after that safety car he deserved to win that race - he'd done everything he needed to.

"But I was thinking to myself, I'm going to try and get him but this is a great one-two for the team. But then things shifted and I came out ahead so it was very, very mixed emotions.

"One, I was grateful for the opportunity to win a grand prix and secondly, on the other side, feeling that I didn't drive the way I normally drive so that hurts a little bit within my heart - because it's not like I'm focusing anywhere else. I struggled this weekend.

"I've got some work to do but I still can go home on a high note and take this hopefully to the next race.

"It is going to be a tough season. Today was another example of that. I'm coming out of the last corner and I'm just in disbelief about the position I was in. it was very, very emotional for me considering that I've been here in previous years and I've done everything I needed to do and then something went against me. I said this morning maybe third time lucky, and this happens to be a track where you kind of need luck. There are a lot of safety cars and a lot of incidents that go on."