After reducing Nico Rosberg’s lead in the Formula One world championships substantially over the last two races, it was thought that Lewis Hamilton would now take a stranglehold in the 2016 title race.
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Both Hamilton and Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg had a configuration setting problem with the engine modes but the rules restrict the team from aiding the driver to solve the problem.
Hamilton was already facing an uphill challenge after he crashed out of qualifying and subsequently started from 10th.
“So it was pre-set in the wrong way and it happened a little bit earlier on Lewis s auto”.
He said: “It has been an unbelievable day and an fantastic weekend – it has been spectacular”.
Mercedes: “We don’t advise that, Lewis”.
“I don’t understand the rule of crossing the line, you gain zero from it”, Raikkonen said.
“No, that’s not allowed”, was the reply. “Let’s just get our heads down and focus on the job”, he was told.
Hamilton had argued on Sunday that the clampdown on radio use was supposed to stop drivers being coached, rather than resolve complex technical issues that could affect safety.
“I am just glad I got some points and am hoping from now on I will have some better races”, he said.
That’s exactly what happened, as Rosberg managed to lead from the first corner and simply drove off way into the distance ahead of his rivals for what could possibly have been the easiest victory of his career so far.
“Yee-hah”, screamed the German over the team radio. Not only down on power, the Red Bull men were also struggling with their tyres and both drivers pitted again, to switch to mediums, Ricciardo rejoining 13th. At 3 place overall is Sebastien Vettel who now has 96 points.
“Nico was in a more fortunate situation in that he did a switch change just before, which kind of led him on the right path”, said Wolff.
Mercedes bigwig and triple world champion Nicki Lauda explained: “The drivers have to decide themselves”.
The 31-year-old suffered hybrid recharging issues but his Merc engineers were not allowed to tell him how to fix it. The drivers have to decide themselves.
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However, Webber said on Austrian Servus TV on Tuesday: “I think Lewis can still win the title. The (radio) ban is there, so we all have to adapt”, he told Sky Sports. “It has been an fantastic day and an unbelievable weekend – it has been spectacular. The weekend went perfectly”. There were some concerns about the safety aspects of the Baku street circuit, which proved to be unfounded as not a single safety auto came out on Sunday. “But I never give up”, he said.
