Mercedes fixes flaw in Hamilton's failed engine
The only issue with the British driver's Mercedes engine was a small hole in the rubbery insulation of a spark plug.
Mar.29 (GMM) The part that caused Lewis Hamilton's retirement in Australia was worth less than a single euro.
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that the only issue with the British driver's Mercedes engine was a small hole in the rubbery insulation of a spark plug.
Hamilton's engine subsequently dropped from six to five functioning cylinders, and so the Brackley team asked him to retire in order to protect the unit from further damage.
"I was sent a photo of the part on the plane home on Sunday night," the team's engine boss Andy Cowell said. "It was pretty frustrating!"
Mercedes has subsequently changed the process with which the insulation is manufactured, after discovering that the original method often resulted in almost invisible cracks.
"Now the parts are made by injection moulding, which produces no seams," said Cowell.
He added that when the newly-manufactured parts were retrofitted to all the 2014 engines in the days after Australia, half a dozen seals with tiny cracks were discovered and discarded.
The engine used by Hamilton in Australia, now featuring a new seal, was fitted to the 2008 world champion's W05 for Sepang practice.
"Before we tested it, I was 90 per cent sure it would be ok," said Cowell. "After the sessions, I added a few more per cent to that."
Hamilton will continue to use the engine for the qualifying session - which was delayed for typically-heavy monsoonal rain - and the race on Sunday.
Share Or Save This Story
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
'Senior moment' or breakdown of trust? The implications of Hamilton's Singapore GP meltdown
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
‘I’ll put a pillow under his butt’ – How Toto Wolff wants to solve Kimi Antonelli’s track limits problem
George Russell calls Red Bull "the team to beat" in F1, but Kimi Antonelli adds a key caveat
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
Brennan Poole to leave Alpha Prime Racing; team owners 'disappointed' to see him go
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Winners and losers from NASCAR Cup at Charlotte after dramatic finish
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
'Senior moment' or breakdown of trust? The implications of Hamilton's Singapore GP meltdown
What we learned from the 2026 F1 Singapore GP sprint and qualifying
How Honda plans a return to being an F1 powerhouse
Why Red Bull's 'crazy' power unit success matters so much for F1
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments