Hope Hamilton can avoid F1 engine penalty with issue ‘solved’

The German manufacturer has admitted to facing reliability issues with its internal combustion engine that have already forced both the works team and its customer outfits to take grid penalties. 

Valtteri Bottas has used six ICE elements, while teammate Hamilton had a grid penalty at the Turkish Grand Prix after switching onto his fourth V6 of the campaign. 

Mercedes has been introducing fresh internal combustion engines amid fears it could suffer a failure that could have “catastrophic” consequences for its championship prospects. 

Speaking on Friday at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff provided a positive update, revealing the team believes it has now got to the bottom of its problems. 

“I think we're feeling more robust about one particular issue that seems to be solved,” Wolff said. 

Wolff ruled out either Mercedes driver taking any further engine penalties in Mexico due to the difficulties of overtaking, citing Bottas’ struggles to make progress in the United States Grand Prix. 

“I think it's never right to take a penalty, because these days it's so difficult to overtake,” he explained. 

“You can see that Valtteri was absolutely dominant in Turkey, but you just get stuck in traffic with the penalty [in Austin]. 

“So we're taking it on the fly. We're deciding, do we need the penalty or are we not needing a penalty? And here certainly we won't take one.

“And maybe we don't need any until the end of the season. That is really something that is being discussed.”

Hamilton, who trails Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 12 points in the world championship, stressed ahead of the weekend that Mercedes is aiming to stick with his current pool of engines for the remaining five events. 

“I believe our engines are strong and as far as I am aware we are hopefully going to the end,” Hamilton said. "So that is not going to be an issue for us hopefully."