Nico Rosberg gets the drop on Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton blamed a poor start to the Austrian Grand Prix for costing him a shot at victory.

The Mercedes man had qualified on pole for the seventh time in eight races but was beaten off the line by team-mate and title rival Nico Rosberg – who then took the chequered flag to close the gap in the championship.

Hamilton did not appear to have the pace to close the gap up front and his hopes were dashed when he was hit with a five-second time penalty for cutting the corner as he exited the pit lane.