Lewis Hamilton has admitted that didn’t know how to deal with an engine mode issue in this weekend’s European Grand Prix, describing how he had “no idea what to do.”
Following a crash early in the third part of qualifying, which meant Hamilton was forced to start from tenth, the Briton had a difficult time working his way up the field in the inaugural Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Although having a strong Mercedes engine, the reigning world champion suffered after a mechanical hiccup midway through the race.
“I had no idea what to do, there were like sixteen different engine positions and in those engine positions, like twenty positions.”
Hamilton, who is second in the Drivers’ Championship currently, confirmed that he fixed the issue himself.
“I was 14 seconds behind the guys in front with seven, eight laps to go, so I just saved the engine, remembering I don’t have as many engines as the guys in front for the rest of the year. Maybe I can get more out of this engine.”
Hamilton’s last European Grand Prix, in 2012, ended in misery after a collision with Williams’ Pastor Maldonado in the dying moments at the Valencia Street Circuit, seeing the then McLaren driver retire from the race.
After battling the ill Mercedes and the reluctance of his engineer, Hamilton cruised his car to a respectable fifth place finish.
As his teammate Nico Rosberg claimed victory in Baku, the Briton now lies 24 points behind him in the standings.
