Lewis Hamilton frustrated by more engine problems in Russia
Lewis Hamilton admitted his frustration at hitting more engine problems in Russia, even though he made it to the flag in second place.
Hamilton suffered a loss of water pressure and, while he finished the race, his engine may have been damaged, and thus might not available for use in the future.
“Obviously it doesn't feel great,” said Hamilton. “You hope that when the car's rebuilt and you've got another engine in that you're not going to have any problems. I'm just grateful that it held together in the actual race, and I'm hopeful that I don't lose that engine as well.”
Asked if he was hurting, he said: “It's not that it hurts, it's not that at all. I don't sit all happy because nothing's actually gone particularly well. I fought hard through that race and got myself back up there, and ultimately I wasn't able to race for the win, which I believe I had a chance to win.
“That's the only thing in my mind and also obviously I'm running out of engines as the races go by, and that's obviously in my mind what I'm thinking. But otherwise it's not that it's hurting, it's just not great.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton straight-lined Turn Two just as the Red Bulls and Sebastian Vettel tangled. He emerged in fifth place, leading some observers to suggest that he'd gained an advantage. However, he followed the FIA protocol and went to the left of the bollard or arrow sign in the run-off area, and thus no penalty was awarded.
Daniel Ricciardo, Fernando Alonso, Romain Grosjean, Marcus Ericsson and Rio Haryanto also went to the left. Lewis received a reprimand in qualifying for going off at Turn Two and not going to the left.
“I didn't have a good start performance-wise. I put myself on the outside because I could see everyone was on the inside, and as I was braking down I was just turning in, and as I was turning in out of the corner of my eye I saw some commotion. I was like, 'Stuff that,' so I turned left.”
Jenson Button was one of the drivers to question the advantage that Hamilton and others may have gained.
“Having the bollard at Turn 2 is the problem at the start,” said Button. “Because people know that if they brake too deep, they go straight on. And they actually don't lose time - they probably gain time because everyone else is trying to fight through Turn 2 and 3. It's a funny one, it needs to be looked at.”