Mercedes engine issue curtails Hamilton’s F1 test
An engine problem was the cause of Lewis Hamilton’s on-track stoppage during the penultimate afternoon of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Barcelona.
The six-time world champion was conducting a long run and had just started his 14th lap of the afternoon when his W11 lost all power coming out of Turn 5.
Hamilton managed to coast to Turn 6 before his 2020 challenger ground to a complete standstill, bringing out a fourth red flag of the penultimate day of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
An engine problem was the cause of Lewis Hamilton’s on-track stoppage during the penultimate afternoon of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Barcelona.
The six-time world champion was conducting a long run and had just started his 14th lap of the afternoon when his W11 lost all power coming out of Turn 5.
Hamilton managed to coast to Turn 6 before his 2020 challenger ground to a complete standstill, bringing out a fourth red flag of the penultimate day of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
His Mercedes was recovered to the pits on a flatbed truck before the German manufacturer confirmed as a precuationary power unit shutdown due to "an oil pressure anomaly" following an investigation into the breakdown.
"We’ve experienced an oil pressure anomaly, which made the engine shut down as a precautionary measure," a Mercedes spokesperson said.
"We’re further investigating the issue; unfortunately, that means our running for today is done."
Hamilton’s run plan has been cut-short prematurely as a result, with Mercedes sidelined for the rest of Thursday as the team fixes the issue.
Mercedes logged just 61 laps between its drivers on Thursday, marking its lowest mileage total of an otherwise strong winter test programme for the reigning world champion squad.
It has led the way in the lap charts prior to Hamilton’s stoppage, with an electrical issue for Valtteri Bottas during the opening week also acting as a blemish on its testing programme.
Mercedes customer team Williams has been thwarted by a number of engine-related problems and has already got through three power units throughout the opening five days of testing so far.
Deputy team principal Claire Williams described the situation as “frustrating” after the British outfit encountered its latest failure on Wednesday as Nicholas Latifi's FW43 conked out with an oil pressure problem.
RED FLAG
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 27, 2020
Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes grinds to a halt during #F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/fX5o6jU5ma
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for Crash.net around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
