Cape Town - Lewis Hamilton has said that it could be team-mate Nico Rosberg’s year after he once again found himself afflicted by technical problems at the Grand Prix of Europe.
The defending F1 champion was hampered by problems with his engine settings at Baku, finishing fifth as Rosberg won and extended his lead from nine to 24 points.
"It's looking like a good year for Nico. But I never give up," said a disappointed Hamilton. "I am definitely not feeling confident for the future but I have a lot of races ahead. The last two were great."
Hamilton struggled at Baku after an error-strewn drive in qualifying left him in 10th place on the starting grid.
The weekend marked a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the Brit, who arrived in Baku confident after wins in the two previous races had seen him slash Rosberg’s once 43-point lead.
"I am just glad I got some points and am hoping from now on I will have some better races,” he said.
"But I have been hoping that for some time and still have these engine problems here and there so we have work to do."
Hamilton was unhappy that the radio ban meant that his team could not tell him how to remedy the engine setting problem that would have given him increased power, saying that the ban had put him at risk.
"It was dangerous," he said. "Just looking at my steering wheel a large proportion of the lap, all the way down the straight just looking at my wheel and all they can tell me is it's a wrong switch position.
"The radio ban was supposed to stop driver aids and this wasn't a driver aid it was a technical issue.
"It would have added to the spectacle if I had had full power. I would have been more in the race," he added.