Hamilton braced for further penalties

It’s fair to say that even though the 2016 Formula One World Championship is only four races in, it’s not Lewis Hamilton’s year.

The three-time Formula One World Champion has been handed a dud hand so far this year.

From slow getaways from pole position, to being wiped out by competitors during the race to lack of reliability whilst Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes looks bullet proof, nothing has gone the Brit’s way.

In Russia, Hamilton fought back from tenth on the grid after yet another technical gremlin prevented him from taking part in Q3, he made it through to second place and was hunting down Rosberg, only for his team to tell him he had a water pressure issue and that he had to slow down.

All this on the back of a reprimand that he was handed following qualifying.

During qualifying, Hamilton made a mistake going into to turn 2, he tried to complete the corner but in the end he ended up running across the corner.

As that decision was made late he missed taking the penalty cone and rejoined the track incorrectly.

Hamilton was alone on the track at the time and he pulled out of the lap, so no advantage was made and yet he was given his second reprimand of 2016.

This means he is just one more reprimand away from being given a 10-place grid penalty.

What makes it all the more galling is that his first reprimand was for reversing in the pitlane taking pole position in Bahrain, an act he made after being told to do so.

‘I’m just aware that there’s most likely going to be at least one 10-place penalty in the future because I’ve got one more reprimand to go, The last one was bloody ridiculous.’ he told Sky Sports.

‘It’s quite funny. When I was in karting there was one steward, he was just there to make everyone’s weekend a bad weekend. And I’m starting to have reminiscent experiences.

‘Families would turn up and spend so much money to be there for weekend. There was one guy – complete a***hole this guy was, I heard he’s still there – he was just there to ruin peoples weekend. I’m starting to see signs of him.’