LEW ON HORSE FOR VICTORY

LEWIS HAMILTON will be handed a horsepower boost for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as he aims to slash Max Verstappen’s championship lead yet further.

Victories in Brazil and Qatar (inset) have seen Hamilton reduce the deficit from 19 points to eight, with only the inaugural race in Jeddah and the season finale in Abu Dhabi to go.

Hamilton saw off his Red Bull rival with a lights-to-flag win in Qatar without the aid of the new engine, which powered him from 10th on the grid to victory in Sao Paulo.

But that power unit will be back in his Mercedes for Saudi Arabia in two weeks when straight-line speed is expected to be a crucial factor.

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff hinted at the switch after Hamilton’s dominant performance on Sunday, saying the seven-time champion would be handed some “spicy equipment” for Saudi Arabia.

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has confirmed the power boost plan for a course he hopes will play into

Hamilton’s hands. “We’ve seen pretty big swings of performance over the recent races, [but] if we look at the track in Saudi, I think it should suit us,” said Shovlin.

“For Lewis, we have got the more powerful engine to go in the car, so that’s going to give him a useful engine.”

Shovlin said Hamilton’s dominance in Qatar left the team staggered. “We can do all our simulations but nothing explains why he was that far ahead of Max,” said Shovlin. “But he’s really in the zone. It’s just down to him really digging deep and doing what needs to be done.” If Hamilton wins in Jeddah and sets the fastest lap and Verstappen comes second, they will head to Abu Dhabi level on points. Should Verstappen outscore Hamilton by 18 points in Jeddah, he will be champion with a race to go.