Hamilton admits 'no one's mistake but his' post losing to Rosberg at Brazil GP

Mercedes racer Lewis Hamilton has admitted that it was no one's mistake but his own after his teammate Nico Rosberg ended the Briton's winning streak at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Hamilton fought back to close a seven-second margin after a spin at about one-third distance just as he appeared to be set to take the lead. But Rosberg did just enough to hold him off in a tense final part of the race.

Hamilton, who saw his lead in the title race reduced to 17 points with 50 available in the final race in Abu Dhabi, was quoted by The BBC as saying that ultimately the spin cost him the win.

The Briton said that he had been much quicker up to that point, adding that he went a second quicker, thought he was going to pit on that lap, used all his tyres and on the next lap there was nothing left.

He also said that he locked the rear and went wide, before admitting that it was no one's fault but his.

Meanwhile, Rosberg admitted that he is very happy with the whole weekend, and added that he has been feeling comfortable in the car and controlled the gap to Hamilton in the race.

Hamilton can win the title by finishing second to Rosberg in Abu Dhabi on 23 November, even though double points would be on offer.

But the Englishman may rue a half-spin on lap 28, which, as it turned out, decided the race in Brazil. Rosberg had made his second pit stop on lap 26, with Hamilton less than two seconds behind him.

The Mercedes engineers calculated that his first lap had not been enough to leapfrog him ahead and decided to keep him out for one more lap to give him extra time to build the advantage he needed.

But he dropped a wheel on to the white line on the entry to Turn Four, the Descido do Lago and ran wide into the run-off area, half-spinning. The incident cost Hamilton seven seconds, which he reduced to two over the course of their third stint.

Rosberg came in first for his final stop, on lap 50, with Hamilton making his a lap later, and their battle resumed with them half a second apart on lap 52, 19 from the finish.

Hamilton, clearly faster, stayed within a second of Rosberg for the remainder of the race but was never close enough to make a passing attempt. Rosberg thus took his fifth win, his first since Germany back in July, while Hamilton has 10 victories.

Hamilton added that overall, he is really happy, adding that he came back, as he clearly had a lot more pace than Rosberg. He also said that he closed down the seven seconds and is looking forward to the next race.

Williams' Felipe Massa took third, despite a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane and pulling into the McLaren pits by mistake at his final stop, the report added.