Shanghai, China - Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton is looking for positives at the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix after a five-place grid penalty wrecked his hopes of a third consecutive pole position this season.
Hamilton, who has won at the Shanghai circuit for the past two years, collected the penalty after Mercedes decided to change his car's gearbox ahead of Sunday's third round of the season.
“For me a challenge is an opportunity to rise,” said Hamilton, who has the words 'Still I rise' emblazoned on his helmet and tattooed across his back. “I love racing so I get to race this weekend rather than be at the front and have less of a race.”
Hamilton faces 'severe mental test'
Hamilton qualified on pole in Australia and Bahrain but suffered poor starts in both races, which were won by team-mate Nico Rosberg, who now has a 17 point lead in the standings.
The reigning world champion has not won a race since he clinched his third title last October in Texas, with Rosberg now chasing his sixth consecutive victory, and had to fight back from seventh at the end of lap one to third in Bahrain.
Hamilton recognised it would be a tough weekend but said fighting through the field reminded him of his karting days, when others had better equipment and he had to make the difference.
“Actually, the last couple of races, being a little further back has been really exciting,” he added.
ROSBERG ON A ROLL
Mercedes has won 34 of the past 40 races and, with Hamilton starting no higher than sixth, Rosberg will be favourite to add to the tally and stretch his overall lead.
Rosberg needs no reminding of 2014, however, when he was 29 points clear of Hamilton at one stage but still lost out to his team-mate in the end.
“It hasn't really changed my approach at all,” Rosberg said. “A Hamilton that starts sixth is still going to challenge for the win and we know that.”
Mercedes said Shanghai, a circuit where Hamilton has won four times - more than any other driver - was the best place to take the penalty after the gearbox was damaged in Bahrain.
A driver must use a single gearbox for six consecutive events or take a mandatory penalty.