The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
HamiltonthirdinBahraindespiteearlycollision
Lewis Hamilton feared he would lose more ground to Nico Rosberg in the F1 World Championship after his firstcorner collision in the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Mercedes driver Rosberg, who now holds a 17-point lead in the title race, benefited from team-mate Hamilton’s coming together with the Williams of Valtteri Bottas to claim his second victory in as many grands prix.
Pole-sitter Hamilton, following his second consecutive poor getaway, sustained damage to the front wing and floor of his Mercedes, but turned in a commendable recovery drive to finish third behind Rosberg and the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen.
Bottas was handed a drive-through penalty after the stewards deemed the fast-starting Finn to be at fault for slamming into Hamilton.
Mercedes boss To t o Wo lf f subsequently claimed the damage cost Hamilton one second a lap.
“I lost a lot of performance from the car,” said Hamilton, who has now failed to taste victory since he clinched the championship at October’s US Grand Prix.
“I am not quite sure what happened at turn one, but whoever was on the inside was in my blind spot so I didn’t see them.
“It was a racing incident and these kind of things happen.
“I tried to get as many points as possible and I did the best I could with it.”
Hamilton, with sparks flying off the undertray of his damaged Mercedes, began to carve his way through the field.
By the end of lap one, the Briton had progressed to seventh, which became fifth on lap seven and then third one lap later.
While Hamilton was charging through the pack, Jenson Button’s day came to a premature end when he retired with mechanical gremlins.
The opening round of pit stops saw Mercedes split their strategy with Rosberg taking on a set of soft tyres, while Hamilton opted for the more durable medium compound.
It appeared to be playing into the Briton’s hands as he managed to keep pace with both Rosberg and Raikkonen, but he soon began to slow and had to stop for a fresh set of rubber earlier than his team-mate and the Ferrari in second place. From there his charge stopped as he failed to place Raikkonen under any pressure.
“It’s been an awesome weekend”, Rosberg said. “I am very, very happy with today. It is absolutely awesome to get another win.”