Five-time world champion Hamilton, 34, said Vettel’s series of errors in recent times paled into insignificance in the context of his achievements throughout his career.
“It happens to all of us,” Hamilton said. “Just because you’re a multiple world champion doesn’t mean you’re not going to have off weekends.
“It’s more cumulative. Look at Vettel’s career. He’s had stunning performances that far outweigh the weaker races and when he’s spun, for example. They’re minuscule on the status he’s accumulated and created.
“There are always times when you just happen to not get the right car set-up, which you guys don’t get to see. All these little things that we’re doing, it just doesn’t happen to work that weekend and the differences are so small yet they look so big.
“I don’t know why that happens but today was one of those for him. But he’s a world champion and great athlete. He will recover and keep pushing.”
Hamilton’s win left him one point behind team-mate Valtteri Bottas at the head of the championship after the first two grands prix of a 21-race season.
Despite a problem with one of his cylinders that was costing him five seconds a lap, Leclerc managed to salvage third place out of a race he had dominated.
He is fourth in the championship, four points ahead of Vettel, one behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and 18 behind Bottas.
