Hamilton keeps faith with Mercedes after Austria blunders

Lewis Hamilton says he still trusts his Mercedes, despite their blunders costing him a potential victory at the Austrian Grand Prix. Hamilton retired late in the race, having lost the lead when Mercedes failed to pit him under the Virtual Safety Car.

Hamilton jumped team-mate Valtteri Bottas off the line, but the Finn's retirement with a hydraulic issue prompted a VSC that would turn Hamilton's race.

His rivals behind all dived into the pits, with Hamilton's slowed pace meaning he could not build a suitable gap - once racing conditions were reinstalled the Briton was only 13 seconds ahead - with a pitstop costing 20.

Mercedes apologised before and after servicing Hamilton, who emerged fourth ahead of Sebastian Vettel but lost the place to his championship rival - who now leads the standings by a point - before his car broke down in the closing stages.

Hamilton told Sky Sports: "Ultimately, the guys on the pitwall, you have to put 100 per cent confidence and faith in them and they have the picture.

"All I can see is the guy in front of me and behind me, I don't really know - actually at the time I was in the lead, so I couldn't see where they were.

"So in those circumstances you have to rely fully on the guys on the pitwall.

"We're going to work hard to understand where wave gone wrong on both ends. I know everyone on the team is feeling the pain today.

"But we've got to take out the positives of this weekend and ultimately we were quickest so we should have won. We're going to keep working hard."

Asked if he still had full faith in his team, Hamilton replied: "Of course."