European Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton slams ‘dangerous’ radio rules after more engine problems in Baku
World champion Englishman left frustrated with his car after being told by engineer he was forbidden to try and salvage it
LEWIS HAMILTON went radio gaga after slamming "dangerous" rules that left him fiddling with his knobs at over 200mph.
The word champion was seething after suffering more engine woe as he was denied the chance to fight Nico Rosberg for victory in the European GP.
To make matters worse, Hamilton was not able to receive instructions from his team on how to fix the problem, as it broke new radio rules brought in for this season.
And the Brit says it left him in a dangerous position trying to change settings on his steering wheel while travelling at high speed.
He said: "It felt dangerous. I was just looking at my steering wheel for a large portion of the lap - all the way down the straight just looking at my wheel.
"All they can tell me is there is a switch error, so I am looking at every single switch thinking am I being an idiot here? Have I done something wrong?
"I hadn't. I looked time and time again at the different switch positions and there was nothing that looked irregular.
"The radio ban was supposed to stop driver aids, but it wasn't a driver aid, it was a technical issue.
"Formula One is so technical that it is far too technical almost. To have that many switch positions that is something you should be able to rectify.
"There were probably 100 different switch positions it could have been. There was no way for me to know, no matter how much I study that.
"If I could have fixed it, it would have added to the spectacle as I would have had full power and fighting with the guys up ahead."
Rosberg, whose victory here extended his lead in the championship to 24 points, also suffered a similar problem, which the team say was caused "by an electronic setting problem with engine modes".
However, the German managed to resolve the issue in just half a lap while it took Hamilton, who was fifth, 12 laps to cure and by then his challenge was over.
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But it was not without a farcical radio exchange between Hamilton and his race engineer, Peter Bonnington.
Hamilton reported the issue saying: "I have got derates everywhere...I don't know what that means. This is ridiculous guys, I don't know.
"I'm looking at my fricking dash every five seconds trying to find a switch in the wrong position. I've not changed anything or done anything wrong that I'm aware of."
There was then a frank exchange with his team over the radio.
Mercedes: "There is nothing you are doing wrong, just a setting that is incorrect."
Hamilton: "In HTB?"
Mercedes: "I'm afraid I can't say."
Hamilton: "I might not finish this race as I'm going to try and change everything."
Mercedes: "We do not advise that Lewis."
Hamilton: "Can I make suggestions and you say if it's OK or not?"
Mercedes: "No, that's not allowed. Let's just got our heads down and focus on the job."
It complied a miserable few days for Hamilton, who crashed out during qualifying and had to start down in 10th place.
Yet this time, Mercedes rallied behind their driver and quickly claimed responsibility for the mistake.
Mercedes Head of Motorsport, Toto Wolff said: "We had a configuration setting problem. An electronic setting problem with engine modes which appeared on both cars.
"Nico was in the more fortunate situation because he did a switch change just before, which kind of led him on the right path, so within half a lap he went back into the right mode.
"Lewis, because he did not have that right path, it took him a little while to figure it out, 12 laps, and that is what affected his race.
"The settings were wrong because we had a messy Friday and could configure the cars in the right way it was done, so it was preset in the wrong way."
Ironically, Hamilton's blast livened up this dull race as sadly the expected explosive start failed to spark into life.
At the start, all 22 cars tiptoed their way around this brand new 6km twisty track without incident and there was not a single safety car deployed.
It all played into pole-sitter Rosberg's hands beautifully, as he coasted home for a routine win while Force India's brilliant Mexican Sergio Perez battled for third place behind Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.