Hamilton left frustrated by 'split-second' retirement

Lewis Hamilton has expressed frustration over his early retirement from the Australian Grand Prix caused by a power unit failure.

Hamilton's venture around Melbourne's Albert Park lasted just 17 laps before his engine suddenly seized on the run to turn nine.

The seven-time world champion was the second retirement from the race as Red Bull's Max Verstappen exited with a brake issue in the opening laps.

Hamilton stated he had no warning the engine was about to give way.

“It just appeared out of nowhere. It was like a split-second thing,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. “I didn’t feel it coming, it just went in one go.

"It was definitely frustrating so early in the race, I was hoping to be able to progress forward on a different strategy to everyone. These things happen.”

Hamilton alarmed by RB20 pace

Before his retirement, Hamilton was battling Sergio Perez and was left dismayed by the pace of the Red Bull.

“There’s a massive gap," said Hamilton. "I think they have a second on us. He was on fresh tyres, but the way he pulled away down the straight, it’s the same as last year."

Hamilton's non-finish capped off a difficult weekend for the Briton as he struggled with the balance of his car.

“Nothing more than what I didn’t know before,” Hamilton said after being asked if he was able to learn anything during the race.

“We didn’t look terrible in the high speed but we were slow in the low speed.

“In the last race [in Saudi Arabia], we were bad in the high speed and good in the low. A real struggle this weekend.”