TALKING POINT FOUR POSTER BED
L
ewis Hamilton’s Mercedes handled less like a finelyhoned racing car and more like a “four-poster bed” after
the world champion damaged it in a first-corner collision in
the Chinese Grand Prix.
“The car was like a four-poster bed today,” Hamilton, who
started last and put in a feisty drive to battle his way up to
seventh, told reporters.
“The car was pretty damaged. I don’t know really what I’m
sure it was some aero components. But I think the suspension
was damaged as well so the car was flexing like crazy.”
Hamilton, who went into the weekend aiming to kick-start
his title defence with a third successive win in Shanghai, was
forced to start from the back of the grid after failing to set a
time in Saturday’s qualifying session due problems with his
Mercedes engine.
He made a good start but collided with Sauber’s Felipe Nasr,
dislodging his front wing which then got wedged underneath the
car, damaging its floor and affecting its handling.
The Briton used good old-fashioned racing nous to work his
way to as high as third at one stage, but because of the damage,
his car chewed through its tyres and his challenge faded.
“Every time I did a stop I was having to come back through
again and I wasn’t really gaining a lot of ground,” Hamilton, who
stopped five times during the race, said.