Sebastian Vettel conceded there was nothing more he could have done to stop championship rival Lewis Hamilton from winning in Spain.
The two men went wheel-to-wheel for the first time this season at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, but ultimately better tyre strategy and pit-stop timing proved decisive in the Mercedes’ favour.
Their race-long duel developed after the Ferrari driver was able to get the jump on the Briton having started second on the grid.
“I had a very good start, I think Lewis and myself both picked up wheel spin straightaway,” Vettel said.
“Then I picked up the clutch again and then I could gain on him, I was really happy with that, the run to Turn 1 was quite long but I managed to stay ahead.
“I settled into a nice rhythm, it was fine, obviously Lewis stayed out longer and did the opposite, mirrored the strategy, I knew at the end it would be crucial.”
A mid-race Virtual Safety Car also benefitted Hamilton, as he lost less time when he pitted for the second time, that meant when Vettel pitted a lap later, the two men were side-by-side as the German rejoined the racetrack.
“I was a bit surprised when I came out, it was so close,” the former Red Bull driver admitted.
“I tried to brake as late as possible in Turn 1 and locked up, and I don’t know if we touched, I managed to stay ahead, so it was really close.
“Then I was doing all I could to stay in front, I was a bit lucky as there was a car in front giving me a tow [for several laps], then I was alone and he flew past.
“It was a shame, we tried to stay in the race, well done to him, we did everything we could.”
After the Mercedes breezed ahead with DRS “like a train” as Vettel described it, an additional stop was considered with the 29-year-old revealing: “We weren’t sure, there was a big conversation, trying to do something, we were hoping Lewis would maybe struggle with tyres at the end.
“Normally at the end of the race the track picks up the rubber and the tyres last very long so he didn’t have any problems, we tried to keep pushing and stay close but we never close enough,” he concluded.
