Lewis Hamilton's runner-up spot this afternoon was the best the reigning World Champion could achieve as he simply had no answer to Nico Rosberg's winning pace in the Austrian Grand Prix.
Hamilton's deficit began as soon as the lights went green as his Mercedes was relatively slow off the line, which enabled his team mate to lead the pack into Turn 1.
"When I let the clutch out, the car just underperformed," Hamilton said. "It's something I've been having since Barcelona, and something we need to work on and improve on my side of the garage."
Rosberg resumed his pace after the Safety Car period as Hamilton appeared to remain in close contact until the half-way mark and the initiation of pit stops. "I just tried to keep up with Nico in the first stint, and in the second stint I just didn't have the pace and focused on bringing the car home."
As he rejoined the race after his stop, the British driver inadvertently crossed the white line at the pitlane exit, and was subsequently slapped with a 5 second penalty, but the mishap most probably changed nothing to the race's outcome such was Rosberg's overall edge over his rival and team mate.
Lewis Hamilton still enjoys a 10-point lead in the drivers' World Championship over Rosberg before the Mercedes duo resumes its duel on Hamilton's home turf at Silverstone.
"I'm very much looking forward to seeing lots of Brits and driving that circuit because it's a great track. Your home Grand Prix is always your favourite one. Nico got to win his home race at Monaco so I'll be out there to fight and strike back."
Click here for the gallery of the Formula Una girls at the Austrian Grand Prix
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