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Hamilton happy with surge to sixth

The 2008 world champion, in his McLaren, cut past seven cars on the opening lap alone, as he showed the aggressive passing skills that are his hallmark.

“Not a bad finish from 20^th on the grid!” he said.

“If we were further up, I think we would have had a better race, but I think it was a real great job by the team today — and the car was fantastic here this weekend.

“It’s a positive thing going into the next race.”

His pleasure and praise for the team came as sweet noises after his complaints following a disappointing run to sixth in Australia last week where he grumbled about a mistaken decision to call him in for a second pit-stop.

“I’m very, very happy with that result. I think to come from 20^th on the grid to sixth — well, I don’t know how many points that is, but it’s definitely a good result.”

And he was full of praise, too, for close friend Adrian Sutil who drove splendidly to defend his fifth place for Force India from Hamilton’s attacks.

“I was pretty much quicker than him everywhere, but he was very smart on the exits, and down the straights — he was too fast,” said Hamilton.

“And don’t forget they have the same engines as us so they have the power.”

His McLaren team-mate, defending champion and compatriot Jenson Button, started 17^th and finished eighth after a lengthy struggle following tyre problems and a battle with both Ferraris.

“I got a terrible start and I think I made a mistake going to the ‘option’ tyre because I had no rear grip at all. In the high speed it was terrible,” said Button.

“So I just couldn’t overtake. I lost a lot of time at the start. I pitted on lap 10, when I could drop into a clear circuit, and it felt good.

“But the problem was I was on the prime for so long, around a circuit you can overtake on it was very, very difficult. The cars behind me were two seconds quicker. To try and hold them off was very difficult.

“Felipe (Massa) eventually got past. Fernando (Alonso) tried a couple of times and the last time he tried, he went so deep into the corner and then suddenly his engine was gone. But we had a good fight.

“I never realised fighting for eighth was going to be so difficult, but it’s good to get some points.”