Lewis Hamilton lamented his inability to compete in the European Grand Prix after an incorrect set-up and Formula One's radio restrictions wrecked his race in Baku.
Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg stormed to victory in F1's first visit to Azerbaijan's capital, Sebastian Vettel and Sergio Perez rounding off the podium.
Hamilton started 10th on the grid, but could only make his way to fifth after suffering a loss of power, with the reigning world champion becoming increasingly frustrated at his team not being able to tell him how to fix his problem.
"I don't see the benefit," Hamilton told Sky F1 of F1's radio ban. "The FIA have made Formula One so technical. To have at least 100 different switch positions, there's no way for me to know – however much I study – what the problem was.
"It's just a shame I couldn't race. I wanted to race. If I'd been able to resolve the power situation I could have been part of the show, but it wasn't to be so it's the way it is."
Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda revealed that Rosberg had also suffered with the same issue, although he was able to fix it much quicker than Hamilton.
"It is difficult and in this case it was a discussion about engine modes and we can't tell them," Lauda said.
"It was a problem they both had and Nico could fix it quicker than Lewis. The [radio] ban is there, so we all have to adapt.
"We would've got a penalty and we would've been further back so no-one wants to risk that. Lewis did not get the speed out of the car that Nico did."
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