Hamilton stays confident despite engine failure in season’s opener
BRITAIN’S Lewis Hamilton had to watch from the sidelines yesterday as team-mate Nico Rosberg won the Australian Grand Prix, after the 2008 world champion’s Mercedes engine failed and forced an early retirement.
Hamilton started on pole yet had to give up on lap three, by which time Rosberg was pulling away at the front. A post-race disqualification for Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo means that the McLarens of Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button were placed in second and third.
McLaren lead the constructors’ championship after one race, yet Hamilton remains confident about his Mercedes.
“We’ve got pace and will recover from this. It’s only a hiccup and there’s a long way to go. At the moment I’m not concerned about anything,” Hamilton said.
“We only had five cylinders firing and, while I wanted to keep going, we had to play safe and save the engine. It’s unfortunate but that’s racing and we’ll recover from this.”
The day ended in heartbreak for Australian Ricciardo who, making his debut for Red Bull’s first team, crossed the line in second place before later being disqualified for breaking fuel consumption rules. Red Bull are appealing the decision.
His team-mate, reigning champion Sebastian Vettel, mirrored Hamilton’s experience by being hit by engine problems and retiring on lap six. The exit marked the first time since July last year that an F1 race has not been won by Vettel.
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who was the runner-up in last year’s drivers’ championship, finished fourth, with Williams’ Valtteri Bottas fifth.