The seven-time world champion dropped to 19th after picking up a puncture in a first-l🀅ap collision with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, before mounting an incredible recovery drive to finish fifth at Barcelona. 

After finding himself 30 seconds adrift of the pack following his early pit stop, Hamilton admitted he initially doubted that such 𝓰a result was possible.&nbs꧃p;

“I am so happy,” Hamilton said after the race. “I was hoping for a smoother race without the issue at the beginning. I was 30 seconds behind last at one stꦜag🍌e. 

“Having seen what it was like back in Jeddah where I started 15th and struggled to get into the top ten, I was thinking this is impossible to get back into the points but th🌌ey said no I was on for eighth. 

“I couldn't understand it and thought they were definitely being super optimistic. But I thought 🔜let's give it everything and see where I come out. 

“Turns out it was higher than eighth, a little unfortunate at the end with the engine but I am glad w𒁏e finished.” 

Hamilton eve♏n suggested Mercedes should retire his car in order to preserve his engine amid concerns about a potential grid ♚drop later in the season. 

Asked about his plea over team radio to “save the engine”,🏅 Hamilton replied: “I was 30 seconds behind so I thought if I am going to use a whole engine to drive around in last or out of the top 15 and at some point take a penalty, I thought we may as well save the engine so we can live to fight another day. 

“Thank god we didn't, that is why we never stop 🦄we never give up and that's what I☂ did.” 

Having swept past Carlos Sainz for fourth, Hamilton lo🐓st the position to the Ferrari driver on the penultimate lap after being told to lift-and-coas🐭t by Mercedes because he had a water leak on his car. 

Speaking to Sky, Hamilton said the late issue forced 🐼him to drive at “half-throttle” during the closing laps. 

"It was a lot hotter than pr♎edicted today and it’s quite tough with these cars,” he explained. 

“I don’t know exactly went on with the car, I’ve not🌊 spoken ﷽with the team because I’ve been elsewhere. 

“But I had to basi🍎cally just drive it at half-throttle and lots of lifting down the straights j🐠ust to try and get fresh air into the engine to try and cool it down.” 

‘Hamilton had pace to win’ - Wolff 

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff f꧑elt that Hamilton could have challenged for victory without the first-lap contact, given 𝄹the remarkable speed he had demonstrated during his comeback charge through the field. 

“It’s always the call when you’ve basically✃ lost the race to decide, what’🐲s the benefit of continuing,” Wolff said. 

“From a driver’s perspective you’re like, ‘that can’t be possible, I’m 50 seconds behind the leaders’. But it’s still valuable mileage, and we are never g♉iving up anyway. 

“At the end his 🌌race pace was stunning. He would have raced for the win.

"I’m ha🌌ppy that we didn’t retire Lewis as that was the most valuable race for us to compare the two cars, to compare set-ups, and tyr൩es.” 

Mercedes’ encouraging step forward was also demonstrated byꦉ George Russell’s impressive drive to third place on the podium, but Wolff says there is more to come from his team. 

"It’s better than expected because I’m always so pessimistic about things,” he added. “We’ve played clear from the m꧃idfield, at least in Barcelona🥂, and caught up by half a second to the frontrunners. 

“We were a second off and now it’s half a second and there’s more to come, more understanding now which we cꦉan unlock in the car, I’m sure about that.”