Hamilton’s chances go up in smoke as engine fire halts Malaysian GP charge

Lewis Hamilton’s bid to win a fourth championship is hanging in the balance after a cruel engine failure robbed him of victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix. The British driver was on course to cruise to the 50th victory of his career at a sweltering Sepang when his engine blew up with just 15 laps remaining. It handed victory to Daniel Ricciardo with his team-mate Max Verstappen following him home to seal Red Bull’s first one-two finish in nearly three years. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s championship rival, Nico Rosberg, fought back to finish third following a first-corner collision with Sebastian Vettel.

My question is to Mercedes. We have so many engines made for drivers, but mine are the only ones failing this year. Someone needs to give me some answers because this is not acceptable.

Lewis Hamilton

After dominating practice, Hamilton qualified nearly half-a-second clear of Rosberg and was controlling the race only to suffer yet another engine failure in a season which has been marred by a number of mechanical woes. “Oh, no, no,” said an exasperated Hamilton with his head on his crash helmet and his stricken Mercedes on fire. The world champion left his cockpit before crouching down on his knees in the gravel at turn one. “We are fighting for the championship and only my engines are failing. It does not sit right with me,” he said later.

Someone doesn’t want me to win this year but I won’t give up. I will keep pushing.

Lewis Hamilton

Sports