KOREAN GRAND PRIX: Lewis Hamilton

Korean tarmac was transformed into the road to redemption for Lewis Hamilton — even if the McLaren man knows many miles lie ahead for the memory of a dire season to be erased.

A titanic tussle for second with Red Bull’s Mark Webber provided the starting point here. But for such a fierce competitor, finishing 12 seconds behind Sebastian Vettel was never going to amount to anything more than a good beginning.

The pressure to succeed that Hamilton places on his shoulders continues to weigh heavily. But fending off a considerably quicker Webber lap after lap, gutsily regaining track position more than once when the Australian briefly got his nose in front, should go a way to easing the burden.

Having failed to make the podium for five races, Hamilton was pleased enough, but he was not getting carried away. ‘I am very proud of myself for keeping it together, not making mistakes,’ he said.

‘He was on my tail for 30 laps, so I am very happy I was able to keep my head together and stay out of trouble. I’ve had a disastrous year and I’m still not happy about it. One good race does not redeem a whole year of negative races, but it’s a start. It feels like a step in the right direction.’

After breaking Red Bull’s stranglehold on pole for the first time in almost a year, Hamilton had hoped for better than to lose first place to Vettel by Turn Four of the first lap. But to stay ahead of Webber required concentration and superb race craft.

‘It’s a very special day and a fantastic achievement by every single team member,’ said delighted team principal Christian Horner.

Vettel beamed widely at yet another trophy, but while Hamilton put himself back on the right track, until he returns to the top step of the podium his lack of ebullience will surely remain.