“There are 17 races to give Nico hell” hell
PREDICTS MORE STRIFE
Lewis Hamilton believes his run of bad luck won’t end, with more technical troubles in Russia last weekend, but has vowed to take the fight to team-mate Nico Rosberg over the remaining 17 races.
British star Hamilton fell victim to yet more mechanical issues over the race weekend in Sochi. A repeat failure of his W07’s hybrid system in qualifying consigned him to a 10th place start as Rosberg claimed pole.
Hamilton fought his way to second place and was gaining on Rosberg, who was struggling with his own hybrid issue, when the team spotted a water pressure problem on Hamilton’s engine and ordered him to slow down.
Rosberg recorded his fourth win of the year and has opened up a 43-point gap over reigning world champion Hamilton.
With 17 races still remaining this term, Hamilton said he wasn’t panicking yet.
“I had no doubt in my mind that I could have won this race,” said Hamilton. “Then I had the problem with the engine again and had to back off. I wasn’t at full throttle down the straights, so I was just trying to look after it. My concern is about having a car able to fight equally with. There will be more problems ahead.
“I fought hard through that race to get myself back up there. Nico has a great start and a great confidence boost of having won four races. He knows that even if he has two bad ones he’s still in the fight. Generally he’s been in front and has had a nice Sunday drive. But there are still 17 races to go, and that’s 17 races to try and give him hell.”
Hamilton also took a swipe at race stewards, who handed him a reprimand for rejoining the track incorrectly after he ran wide at Turn 2 in the first stage of qualifying. Hamilton already had one reprimand – for reversing in the pits in Bahrain – and believes a penalty is possible.
“I’ve got one reprimand to go so I’m aware there’s going to be a 10-place penalty in the future. The last one was bloody ridiculous. It reminded me of my karting days when there was one steward – a real a***hole – who was just there to ruin people’s weekends.”