Formula 1
Mercedes: Not a definite Hamilton must take extra F1 engine
Toto Wolff says it is "not an absolute must" that Lewis Hamilton will need to take an additional Formula 1 power unit this season and serve a grid penalty.
Luke Smith
Edited: Sep 16, 2021, 11:59 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Teams are entering the final third of the 2021 season braced for possible penalties as they hit the limit of their season allocation for power unit elements.
Red Bull has already confirmed that Max Verstappen will have to take a grid drop at a race later this year after losing one of his engines in a crash at Silverstone with title rival Hamilton, but will do so strategically at a track it thinks would allow for Verstappen to recover places.
Mercedes opted to move Bottas onto his fourth power unit of the season at Monza, meaning the Finn started the race from the back of the grid despite topping qualifying and winning the sprint race.
But Mercedes F1 chief Wolff explained that it was not a definite decision that Hamilton would take a grid drop at some point this year, given he still has life in his latest power unit.
"No, it's not an absolute must because we're still running very comfortably with this power unit," Wolff said.
"It's a decision that can be made at any time but, at the moment, we don't feel it's necessary.
"Does that mean we're not going to take a fourth? No, it doesn't. We will see how the next races pan out."
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes AMG, with Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
Wolff told Sky Sports on Friday at Monza that he was wary of the impact a DNF may have on the title race given the fine margins between Hamilton and Verstappen, as well as between Mercedes and Red Bull in the constructors' championship.
"We believe that between P1 and P2, with the fastest lap, that if you have one DNF it needs the other guy four races to catch up," Wolff said.
"And that's brutal. So you can afford to finish four times in second [place]. Therefore, you just need to really play it safe while not giving up performance."
Hamilton added: "At the moment I've still got two engines. And there's currently no plan for me to have to take an extra engine, hopefully. But we shall see."
Read Also:
- F1 releases dramatic new 360º video of Hamilton/Verstappen crash
- Having FP2 under F1's sprint format "makes no sense" - Todt
- F1 confirms plan for mandatory Friday running for young drivers
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Review: Schumacher Netflix movie lifts lid on the two sides of F1 ace
Next article Ocon disagrees with Monza F1 time penalty
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Luke Smith
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
Formula 1
Formula 1
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Formula 1
Formula 1
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Formula 1
Formula 1
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Why Ferrari failed to deliver on its hype in F1's United States GP qualifying
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
10 h
Why Ferrari failed to deliver on its hype in F1's United States GP qualifying
F1 United States GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
11 h
F1 United States GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
More from
Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli delivers Austin surprise pole in tricky Mercedes: "Finally we're seeing the results"
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
10 h
Kimi Antonelli delivers Austin surprise pole in tricky Mercedes: "Finally we're seeing the results"
F1 United States GP: Kimi Antonelli takes pole with George Russell sixth
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
12 h
F1 United States GP: Kimi Antonelli takes pole with George Russell sixth
Latest news
Carson Hocevar says Zane Smith feud is "pretty one-sided"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
36 min
Carson Hocevar says Zane Smith feud is "pretty one-sided"
Jack Miller says Australian GP cancellation “tough to swallow”: “It is pissing me off”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Jack Miller says Australian GP cancellation “tough to swallow”: “It is pissing me off”
Max Verstappen reacts to COTA boss: "He can drive my car, after five laps he won't be able to walk"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Max Verstappen reacts to COTA boss: "He can drive my car, after five laps he won't be able to walk"
Sammy Smith just pulled off a rare Talladega feat not seen in over twenty years
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Talladega II
1 h
Sammy Smith just pulled off a rare Talladega feat not seen in over twenty years
Feature
Discover prime content
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.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe