Mercedes to break out Hamilton "spicy equipment" for Saudi GP

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed Lewis Hamilton will be granted use of his "spicy" São Paulo engine in Saudi Arabia.

Hamilton arrives at the Jeddah Street Circuit knowing he must finish within 18 points of championship leader Max Verstappen in order to take the title fight to the season finale.

To help with this task, Mercedes has fitted the engine used by the seven-time champion in Brazil back into his W12 after running an older unit last time out in Qatar.

The engine is Hamilton's fifth of the season with his fourth, the first beyond the allocated limit, used for the first time in Turkey.

“Saudi should be a good track for us but we know that this year when you think it is a good one, it can turn the other way around," Wolff told Sky Sports F1.

“But there is a long straight, we will get our spicy equipment, engine, out for Saudi Arabia that we didn’t use [in Qatar] and hopefully Valtteri is right up there.

“We need him but, in any case, if everybody finishes the race it is going to go to Abu Dhabi.”

Since being thrown out of qualifying in Brazil, Hamilton has scored back to back wins to narrow the points gap from 21 to just eight.

Should the Mercedes driver win in Saudi Arabia and also claim the fastest lap, the championship scores would be level heading to Abu Dhabi.

Asked if the car was the best it has been all year, Wolff added: “Yes, definitely.

"I think that the car is quick on the straight and the car is good around the corners.

"Degradation is fine in evening races in the Middle East and we have two to come of these.”

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