Lewis Hamilton admits he felt he had a chance of winning the Belgian Grand Prix after a red flag period promoted him to fifth place.
The championship leader started from 21st on the grid after taking a number of power unit penalties, and finished the opening lap in 15th place due to collisions and retirements. Hamilton stayed out during a safety car period to run fifth on the road after a heavy crash for Kevin Magnussen, and when the race was stopped to allow barrier repairs, he could take a free pit stop and retain position.
"At that point, I just thought this is a bonus and I am already in the points which is great and let’s see what I can get," Hamilton said of his thoughts during the red flag period. "Of course the thought of winning crosses my mind but I am also conscious that the gap is already quite big.
"But for Nico, who was obviously having a Sunday drive, so he didn’t have any stress from anyone and he was gone by the time I had even got passed the Force India. So, at that point I was just trying to fight for as many points as possible."
Hamilton also explained he took a cautious approach to the race, and found himself surprised to gain so many positions under the red flag.
"The start I didn’t go too hard in terms of attacking into Turn 1 and then I saw Kimi [Raikkonen] and I avoided that. I had a big lift and was like, ‘let these guys go’. So I came out of Eau Rouge with a decent gap to those cars ahead and they looked like they were all a bit crazy. So, I was just trying to stay out of that.
"I think I lost a place to Alonso, trying to get around the Ferrari. But it wasn’t clear to go to the right or left of it. Again I wasn’t risking anything.
"Then after that it was just trying to recover and I guess with the VSC people were stopping and then the red flag came out and I think I was at that point up to fifth. That was because people had stopped, but that was perfect.
"I definitely wasn’t expecting that and there has been races I have done and I needed something like that, but it has not happened and it has been a real tough fight from the back. But after the safety car I was already up to fifth, which was more than I thought I could get. The team predicted eighth today. So I am very happy with third."
And Hamilton says his past experiences have helped him deal with such a situation despite having been used to a dominant car in recent seasons.
"Not really [different] because in the rest of my career ... particularly in my early days, my first couple of years in karting for example, we were always last because we had a crap go-kart. So, I was use to starting last and so I had to come through.
"Then when I got into cars it sucked at the beginning because I was at the back and then in Formula 1 I have had at least a couple of years, or one year, where I was at the back and having to come through. So, for me it is a normal day when I have to start at the back. It is not a stressful scenario because I have been there so many times.
"The only question is, is staying out of trouble and how hard you push. My natural racing instinct is to get the best start possible and jump as many people before Turn 1 and into Turn 1 and out of Turn 1 and hopefully you have done half the job. So P12 already after Turn 1 is the goal.
"That is what I want to do, but obviously, as I have said, all the drivers are hustling and bustling for position and I think my experience, I really used that to my advantage today, and really all the years of experience came to fruition."
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