SHANGHAI: World champion Lewis Hamilton will start the Chinese Grand Prix from the back of the grid after suffering mechanical trouble in Saturday’s qualifying.
The Briton, who watched Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg win the season’s first two races, reported a problem with his power unit before qualifying was halted just three minutes in after Pascal Wehrlein’s Manor crashed into a wall.
Hamilton, who has won a record four times in Shanghai including the last two years, had already been hit with a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race after a gearbox change.
His hopes of preventing fierce rival Rosberg extending his championship lead from 17 points now look forlorn.
