Nico Rosberg claims the Mercedes' F1 engineers "could not see what was going on" during his disastrous start to Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.
Teammate Lewis Hamilton eased to a third successive win in China, but still trails Rosberg by four points after the German's win Down Under.
Rosberg recovered in Shanghai and has now registered a trio of runner-up finishes to the Briton, and at this early stage the title fight appears to be between the Mercedes duo as Mercedes.
No team in F1 history that has won the opening four races has then not had one of their drivers go on to be crowned champion.
Hamilton wins Chinese Grand Prix
F1 Grand Prix of China(01 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with his team following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(02 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(03 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP drives during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(04 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(05 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(06 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads into the first corner during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(07 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(08 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP drives during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-CHN-F1(09 of28)
Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain leads the pack at the start of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO/GOH CHAI HIN (Photo credit should read GOH CHAI HIN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(10 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Fernando Alonso of Spain and Ferrari into the third corner during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(11 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Fernando Alonso of Spain and Ferrari into the third corner during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(12 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(13 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(14 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with his team following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(15 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with his team following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-CHN-F1-PODIUM(16 of28)
Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(17 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with his team following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(18 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with his team following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(19 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with teamate second placed Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(20 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with his team following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-CHN-F1(21 of28)
Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 20, 2014. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(22 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(23 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with teamate second placed Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(24 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with his team following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(25 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(26 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with teamate second placed Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(27 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory following the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of China(28 of28)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 20: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates his victory with team-mate second placed Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2014 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)