Lewis Hamilton has claimed that he has "nothing positive" to say about Pirelli's tyres following his fifth-placed finish at the German Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver started in pole position at the Nurburgring but lost ground at the first corner as Sebastian Vettel went on to win on his home soil.

All of the cars involved were using Kevlar-belted wheels after they were reintroduced by Pirelli for the race, but Hamilton admits that he had a tough afternoon using them.

"I have to hold myself back because I have nothing positive to say about these tyres and I don't understand why we struggled so much on them, but that's motor racing," he told Sky Sports News.

"It's a shame because the team is working so hard, doing such a great job and we've clearly got a good car but for some reason it doesn't work on these tyres."

Hamilton's teammate Nico Rosberg ended the race in ninth position.