Longwayto go– Hamilton

LEWIS HAMILTON is hoping the reliability gremlins that wrecked his bid for a season-opening win in Australia have now been eradicated as he goes in search of a maiden triumph in Malaysia.

Hamilton’s joy at clinching the 32nd pole position of his Formula One career was shortlived due to a cylinder failure in the engine that restricted his race to just three laps.

To rub salt into the wounds, Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg romped to victory, although Hamilton at least drew on the positive aspect in that one of the team’s cars remained trouble-free all weekend.

“I’m quite a few points down already after the first race, but there is a long, long way to go and I’m just going to have to work hard to claw it back,” he said.

“I felt really happy with the job I did in terms of how I prepared myself, how I studied and how ready I was.

“As for the team, the engineers did everything they possibly could, everyone did everything right, and so we just have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“The cool thing is we had one car that had no faults with it, so they are obviously doing something right.

“Obviously, there will be races where I will finish and won’t finish, and hopefully the ones I do finish we will get good points.”

After finishing third in the last two races at the Sepang International Circuit, and second in his debut season in 2007, there is naturally one obvious aim.

“I haven’t won in Malaysia yet, but I’m going there with the aim to do so, and I know we’ve the car that can do it,” Hamilton added.

“I’m looking forward to bouncing back after a tough weekend inAustralia.”