Red Bull "information" indicates further Hamilton PU trouble - Marko

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has claimed the team has information that suggests Lewis Hamilton will need to take further engine pain before the season is over.

With five races remaining, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen holds a 12 point margin over Hamilton in the drivers' championship standings.

Although both have taken engine penalties, Verstappen starting from the back in Russia after taking a full power unit and Hamilton dropping 10 places in Turkey for only a fresh internal combustion engine [ICE], Marko is certain Hamilton's troubles are not yet over.

“If the races go normally and there are no accidents, we will get through with our engines,” Marko told Auto Motor und Sport.

“So far, we have been absolutely reliable with the Honda engine.

“You are never immune to a defect. But the engine situation is certainly more reassuring on the Honda side than on the Mercedes side.

“Our information, our hope, is that Hamilton will have to change again.”

Since the summer break, Mercedes has rallied with the United States Grand Prix the first time the team had been outscored by Red Bull since the Belgian wash out in August.

"The current status is that we are just behind Mercedes in terms of engine performance," explained Marko.

"With their lowering of the stern, they have an advantage on long straights. With the chassis, it depends on the shape of the day.

"The superiority that we had from France is gone."

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