Hamilton relives 'confusing' pit incident

Lewis Hamilton relived the confusion that almost cost him his German Grand Prix win as "the most confusing second and a half". Hamilton swerved out of the pit-lane entry under the safety car in Hockenheim, earning a reprimand, but not a time penalty that could have handed victory to team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

Sebastian Vettel crashed out of a wet race in Germany to open the door for Hamilton to take victory and the lead in the drivers' championship.

Hamilton had been called into the pits when Vettel's crash neutralised the race, but he darted back to the track, crossing white lines, when Kimi Raikkonen remained out and in the lead of the race.

VIDEO: Hamilton pit-lane incident in full

Raikkonen eventually did pit, but Hamilton stayed out, holding onto the win when Mercedes called off Bottas' late charge.

Victory for Hamilton was not confirmed until two and a half hours after the chequered flag fell.

"It was the most confusing second and a half," he said. "I honestly thought I was going to stay out.

"I was happy with my tyres and then they said come in and I saw Valtteri ahead coming in so I was like 'are they sure about it'?

"By the time I got in they were like 'no, stay out'. It was literally like 'go left, go right'. I just slowed down and trundled over some grass and made sure I joined the track as safely as I could.

"I don't know if you heard the radio afterwards because it was the most confusing couple of second, they were shouting in my ear 'go left, go right'."

He added: "It's been the most emotional day, up and down. No one ever wants to go and see the stewards.

"They have the hardest job because every scenario is always different. But this has just been an unbelievable day."