Lewis Hamilton's bid to win his fourth Formula One championship has largely been blighted by a run of torrid luck. Here, Press Association Sport looks at Hamilton's troubled start to the defence of his crown.
AUSTRALIA
Hamilton started from pole at the season-opening race, but a poor getaway saw him drop to sixth. The Briton clawed his way back through the pack to finish behind race winner Nico Rosberg.
ROSBERG: 25 (points)
HAMILTON: 18
BAHRAIN
Hamilton started the Sakhir race from pole following a record-breaking lap in qualifying, but found himself down in ninth after Valtteri Bottas thumped into him at turn one. Hamilton fought back, but his recovery drive was thwarted by damage he sustained to his car in the first-corner incident. He crossed the line in third with Rosberg cruising to victory.
ROSBERG: 50
HAMILTON: 33
CHINA
Hamilton was already facing a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change in the build up the race in Shanghai. Matters then got worse for the Briton after he was unable to set a lap in qualifying following an engine problem. Hamilton started last and then sustained damage to his car after he was barged into at the opening corner by Sauber's Felipe Nasr. Hamilton hauled his stricken Mercedes up to seventh, but lost further ground to Rosberg in the championship as the German sauntered to win number three.
ROSBERG: 75
HAMILTON: 39
RUSSIA
For the second race in succession, an engine problem scuppered Hamilton's chances of pole. He was unable to post a time in Q3, the final phase of qualifying, and, as such, started Sunday's race from 10th. Hamilton moved up to second, but his charge was halted by yet another problem with his Mercedes engine.
ROSBERG: 100
HAMILTON: 57
Source: PA
