adminLONDOn. — Lewis Hamilton has vowed to stay on the attack despite extending his World Championship lead over Nico Rosberg with his fourth successive victory in Sunday’s inaugural Russian Grand Prix. Hamilton — only the fourth driver in history to win nine grands prix in a single season — increased his championship advantage to 17 points with victory at Sochi. Few will have been as straightforward, or as solitary, as his Sunday cruise following Nico Rosberg’s race-wrecking lock-up into the second corner.
“I like to think l am still growing as a driver, moulding and improving in some areas,” Hamilton told Sky Sports.
“I will improve for these final races and keep turning up the heat.
“Nico is very close, very fast and doing a great job. I’ll just keep my head down — there’s still three races to go, a long way to go. It’s encouraging to see the result for the team and the performance of the car.”
An on-form Hamilton dominated the Sochi event, setting the pace in two of the three practice sessions and then leading the way in each segment of qualifying.
Victory of the race was never in doubt after Rosberg, possibly distracted by a seat-belt adjustment as he attempted to slipstream his Mercedes team-mate, flat-spotted his tyres into the second corner of the race to such ruinous effect that he had to take an emergency pit-stop.
“It was pretty straightforward, I was on the inside so it was my corner, but it wasn’t even close to working out,” a rueful Rosberg later conceded of his botched move.
“It was just a mistake on my side. I just braked too late and that’s it. It was definitely do-able and I just messed up. It was very simple, no explanation. I just braked too late and too hard.” — Sky Sports.
Online Reporter