Hamilton says new F1 engine rules ‘not a problem’ for team
Six-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has shrugged off a plan to restrict cars’ engine modes in qualifying, saying it will have little impact on slowing his dominant Mercedes team.
The governing FIA confirmed at the Spanish Grand Prix on Thursday that the 10 teams had been informed a change was being evaluated.
A technical directive could take effect at the Belgian Grand Prix later in August.
The change would require teams to use the same engine modes in qualifying as in the race, where power is typically turned up to the maximum only in short bursts to preserve engine lifespan and reliability.
Mercedes, winners of the past six drivers’ and constructors’ titles, have started all five races so far this season from pole position.
“I mean, it’s not a surprise. They’re always trying to slow us down,” Hamilton, who has a 30-point lead in the championship over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, told reporters on a video conference at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
“But it doesn’t really change a huge amount for us, so it’s not a problem.”
Mercedes also provides engines to Racing Point, which has emerged as highly competitive this season, and tail-enders Williams.
“The guys at our team have just done such a great job with the engine,” said Hamilton, who has won three times this year and is only four wins away from equalling Michael Schumacher’s record 91.
“It’s obviously to slow us down but I don’t think it’s going to get the result that they want. But that’s totally fine if they do.”
Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas said Mercedes was not panicking and any change would be the same for everyone but might not be good for racing.
“Every team, obviously, they have different modes, how much they want to risk in terms of wearing the engine,” he added. “Also in terms of strategic things ... many times we’re using different kind of modes whether we are defending, attacking.
“From my side, it feels like if it would be the same engine mode for everyone all through the race, there could be less overtaking because everyone is just running the same modes instead of playing with them.”
PEREZ ‘UNLUCKY’ TO GET COVID-19
Mexican Sergio Perez returned to Formula One at the Spanish Grand Prix on Thursday, saying he took no blame for the positive COVID-19 test that forced him to miss the previous two races.
His Racing Point team said earlier that Perez’s latest test was negative and the governing FIA had confirmed he could compete at the Circuit de Catalunya this weekend.
Perez tested positive before the British Grand Prix after returning to Mexico to see his mother, who had been in hospital following an accident, but said he had taken every precaution.
“I was well aware what was going on,” he told reporters in a video conference at the circuit.
“I haven’t done anything different to the rest of the paddock ... I’m not willing to take any blame for that because anyone can get it, I was just the unlucky one,” he added.
Speaking also to Sky Sports F1, he said he was sure he did not get it in Mexico.
Nico Hulkenberg has been filling in for Perez, the first and so far only driver to contract the novel coronavirus. The German qualified third and finished seventh in last weekend’s 70th anniversary Grand Prix.
Sunday’s race, like the five before it this season, is being held without spectators and under strict health conditions with teams operating in separate “bubbles.”
Racing Point is fifth in the championship despite being docked 15 points by race stewards after Renault protested the team’s 2020 car.