Mark Webber was more than happy with third place at the Singapore Grand Prix yesterday to keep him at the top of the drivers’ championship despite a collision with Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull’s Australian driver gambled with an early pit stop, which paid dividends as he charged through the field, moving from 12th to third behind winner Fernando Alonso and second-placed team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

“The start was good, thanks to the team,” he said.

“We decided to pit early. I admit I questioned the team to start with, but they said it was the right thing and when I came back out I thought, yes, that’s okay.”

But it was almost all for nothing after an incident with Lewis Hamilton, with the pair making contact soon after the safety car came out for a second time.

The Briton, in his McLaren, tried to overtake Webber on the outside but came off worse and was forced to retire.

Webber continued but with a vibration on his car, which he feared could end his race.

“I’m very happy with third place. It’s been a difficult week for me, probably the toughest of the year for me,” he said.

“To get third, I had to stay composed and not panic. Fernando is still hanging in there for the championship and I need to get rid of him somehow.”

On the Hamilton incident, which prompted a steward’s inquiry that concluded no action was necessary, Webber compared it to the Briton’s collision with Felipe Massa in Monza two weeks earlier that put him out of that race as well.

“Lewis certainly was a little bit ahead but it was similar to the last race with Felipe and Lewis,” said Webber.

“Felipe probably didn’t know he was there. Lewis was quite a long way behind.

“This can happen sometimes, we brake completely on the limit. For sure it was incredibly tight – we did not hit that hard, but enough to probably put both of us out of the race. Fortunately I could continue.”