Hamilton on worst F1 season start: I’m focused on the bigger picture

MELBOURNE, Australia — After making his worst start to a Formula One season in his 17-year career, Lewis Hamilton said he is remaining positive by focusing on the “bigger picture.”

An engine failure at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix means the Mercedes driver has scored just eight points from the opening three races and lies ninth in the drivers’ standings.

Although he has scored more points in the first three races than he managed in 2009 with McLaren when F1 ran under a different points system, the first three results are the worst he’s had at the start of a new campaign.

“This is the worst start to a season I have ever had,” Hamilton said. “It’s even worse than 2009, I think.”

But asked how he has dealt with the disappointing start, Hamilton, who is set to leave his Mercedes team for Ferrari next year, said he is still taking positives from the year so far.

“Surprisingly, I feel pretty good,” he said. “I think I’m trying to keep things in perspective, you know?

“It could be so much worse, I’m really grateful and have really enjoyed my time here in Australia. I’m still enjoying working with the team.

“Of course, I’d love to be fighting for wins and finishing races, it’s never a great feeling when you come all this way and don’t even see half of the race, but what I know is that we will bounce back and will get there, we just have to chip away at it.”

Hamilton suffered an engine failure on lap 17 of the Australian Grand Prix while running 11th, which is also where he qualified.

Rather than be frustrated by the result, the seven-time champion said he was only focusing on matters he could control.

“I think it’s easy to be caught up in the moment and focus on this one thing, but the bigger picture is definitely the focus at the moment and also just realising that you can’t control everything,” Hamilton said.

“You can get frustrated because you don’t have control, but if you can just let go and be in the moment, that’s what I’m trying to do.

“It’s not great, I’m not happy, but I’m going to have a great day tomorrow and train hard this week.”