Lewis Hamilton coy over Mercedes engine penalty chance in Brazil

Hamilton, Mercedes — Photo: © LAT Images

São Paulo Grand Prix

Hamilton coy over Mercedes engine penalty chance in Brazil

Will Hamilton need another PU change?

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Friday 12 November 2021 05:00

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Lewis Hamilton remained coy over the possibility Mercedes will introduce another power unit for F1's return to Interlagos this weekend.

Max Verstappen leads the Briton by 19 points heading into the final sprint trial of the season at the São Paulo Grand Prix, with only three races to run after this weekend.

Hamilton took his first penalty of the year in Turkey, with only the internal combustion engine changed, and lost out to Verstappen, finishing fifth as the Red Bull driver was runner-up to Valtteri Bottas.

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A further power unit change and subsequent penalty in Brazil would prove an even tougher proposition given the technical middle sector.

With rumours circulating on Thursday as the teams arrived at the circuit, asked if he faced another penalty, Hamilton replied: "I can't really comment at the moment. I don't know.

"I don't think the engines have even arrived. As far as I am aware my engine is fine but I will find out later. We haven't done our engineering."

Hamilton fears overtaking issues for Mercedes

The sprint returns this weekend following mixed reviews from the first two trials in Silverstone and Monza.

The extra three points available on Saturday could prove pivotal in the title race but on whether the opportunity would aid Mercedes' cause, the seven-time champion said: "It doesn't play into our hands if they are quicker.

"We will wait and see. What we will try and focus on is getting the car in the right window, which is not easy.

"It is not an easy car to set up but I think it is probably similar for everyone. We only have P1 [first practice] so it is even more intense this weekend."

Explaining why the track would prove difficult during the sprint, he added: "This is not a very good track for overtaking.

"Of course, you have got that very long straight but I believe it is close to one of the hardest races for overtaking, on the edge of the list of the hardest of the year.

"I think you have got to have something like 1.1secs advantage on the car ahead to have a 50 per cent chance of overtaking, or something crazy like that, so it is not a great one for it."