Unlikely ally for Hamilton

LEWIS Hamilton has found an unlikely ally in Nico Rosberg after his long-term rival backed him to bounce back from his recent troubles.

Hamilton, 33, is without a victory from the opening three rounds of the F1 season and was worryingly off the pace of the front-runners in China.

The defending champion appeared at a loss to explain his sluggish form.

Hamilton was set to fall further behind rival Sebastian Vettel before Max Verstappen collided with the championship leader in a dramatic finale to Sunday’s race.

“Lewis was struggling all weekend i n China and doesn’t understand why,” said Rosberg, who beat Hamilton to the 2016 title.

“It is a typical phase for Lewis. When it does not go perfectly for him he loses that edge, a touch of motivation and struggles for a while, maybe one, two or three races.

“As a championship opponent you have t o maximise on those races and Sebastian failed to do that so it is a big setback for him as Lewis always comes back.

“And when he does come back he is so strong he is almost unbeatable.”

Hamilton was 17 points adrift of Vettel heading into the third instalment of the title race but departed China within nine points of the German following his coming t ogether with Verstappen.

Verstappen, whose Red Bull t eam-mate Daniel Ricciardo took the chequered flag, was handed a time penalty and slapped with t wo points on his licence by the stewards.

Lewis Hamilton