Lewis Hamilton defended rival Sebastian Vettel’s record after the Ferrari driver spun while the pair were racing in Bahrain – his fourth such error in the last 10 races.

The Mercedes driver said he had “no idea” how Vettel came to spin at turn four while the pair were fighting over second place. “I looked at the replay and we didn’t touch,” said Hamilton, adding, “It was really windy there.”

Vettel spun in similar circumstances while vying for position with Hamilton at Monza last year. In the nine races since he’s also spun while battling with Max Verstappen at Suzuka and Daniel Ricciardo at the Circuit of the Americas.

Asked about Vettel’s spins, Hamilton said “there’s too few of them to really look too much into it” and said the mistakes pale in comparison to his rival’s achievements. The Ferrari driver has won four world championships and 52 grands prix.

“It happens to all of us,” said Hamilton. “Just because you’re a multiple world champion doesn’t mean you’re not going to have off weekends.

“It’s more cumulative. Look at Vettel’s career, he’s had stunning performances that far more outweigh the weaker races and when he’s spun, for example. They’re miniscule on the status he’s accumulated and created.”

Vettel was unable to match the pace of junior team mate Charles Leclerc during the race, which Hamilton believes was due to Vettel being unhappy with his car’s balance.

“There are always times when you just happen to not get the right car set-up, which you guys don’t get to see. All these little things that we’re doing, it just doesn’t happen to work that weekend and the differences are so small yet they look so big.

“I don’t know why their car was so different in pace but I’ve had races; I remember looking back on me and Nico [Rosberg] in Barcelona, we were quick in testing and then there was massive differences in the car in the race and you’re just literally driving with your hands behind your back, you’ve got no grip. And then another race it’s the other way.

“I don’t know why that happens but today was one of those for him. But he’s a world champion and great athlete, he will recover and keep pushing.”

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2019 F1 season