adminSHANGHAI. – Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton said yesterday that a five-place grid penalty imposed on him because of a gearbox change gave him “an opportunity to rise” in China this weekend.
The reigning world champion, who trails Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg by 17 points after the German won the season’s first two races in Australia and Bahrain, faces a battle to prevent that gap from widening in Shanghai.
But Hamilton told reporters: “Arriving with a penalty of course changes the approach to the weekend, it changes the mindset a little bit. But for me a challenge is an opportunity to rise.
“It is going to be an easier weekend for Nico for sure,” added the Briton. “But it doesn’t mean I can’t give him a good run for his money from wherever I start, so I’m going to be pushing as hard as I can.”
Mercedes determined that China was the best place to change the gearbox, which was damaged in Bahrain and needed replacing.
“Not the ideal start to the weekend, admittedly, but of all the places to take a grid hit, this is one of the better ones,” the team tweeted.
Under Formula Ones rules, drivers have to use a single gearbox for six successive races, meaning the highest grid position Hamilton can now hope for on Sunday is sixth. – Reuters.
Online Reporter