Mercedes explains reasons for Lewis Hamilton's engine change

What is happening at Mercedes ? An essential reference in terms of engine power and reliability since the beginning of the hybrid era which opened in 2014, the German manufacturer is consuming V6 turbo hybrids this season like Honda during its failed comeback.

While Valtteri Bottas has already used 6 internal combustion engines (ICE), Lewis Hamilton just took a 5th in Brazil this Friday, the 2nd copy above the limit authorized by the sporting regulations.

This overtaking will lead to a drop of 5 places on the grid for the São Paulo Grand Prix this Sunday. Toto wolff, Mercedes team principal, explained on the microphone of Sky Sports F1, the reasons for this new change.

« We have deterioration on the engine and the power will continue to weaken between now and the end of the season, detailed the Austrian manager. We don't know why yet but we can see that the power is decreasing ».

In recent years, we used to see the number of kilowatts drop after 1 kilometers. This year, the deterioration is more pronounced and the phenomenon increases from weekend to weekend.

Without a new engine, we would not have performed well in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi ».

Hamilton now has two engines left in his fleet: the one installed in Turkey, where he fell 10 places on the grid, and the one introduced in Brazil.

Wolff believes that the third Sprint round of the year, which will take place on Saturday at Interlagos, represents the best opportunity to install a new V3 at the back of the Briton's W6.

Indeed, the penalty will only apply on Sunday, leaving Hamilton, who signed the best time in Free Practice 1 this Friday, to dominate qualifying and pocket the 3 points awarded to the winner of the Sprint before falling back on the grid.

Well, that's the theory.