Dilemma at Mercedes regarding the use of a 4th engine for Hamilton

As the 2021 season approaches its end, teams must prepare for potential penalties if they reach the limit of their season allocation for engine components. Before the Belgian Grand Prix, Red Bull confirmed that Max Verstappen will have to serve a grid penalty after losing one of his engines in his crash with Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone. However, the Austrian team prefers to wait for a track that allows its driver to regain positions more easily.

In Monza, Mercedes chose to install a fourth engine for Valtteri Bottas. The Finn started the race from the back of the grid. This did not prevent the driver from making an exceptional comeback to finish on the third step of the podium. And his teammate, Hamilton, will have to do the same. But for Toto Wolff, the director of the German team, it is not an absolute priority. The current engine of the seven-time world champion still has life in it and can last for a few more races. “No, it is not a priority. We are still very comfortable with this power unit. It is a decision that can be made at any time, but for now, we do not think it is necessary. But that doesn’t mean we won’t take a fourth engine. We will see in the upcoming races,” explained Wolff.

The gap between Verstappen and Hamilton remains minimal. Only five points separate the two drivers. Wolff, however, is wary of the impact that a retirement could have on the title race. “We believe that between P1 and P2, with the fastest lap, if you have a retirement, it takes the other driver four races to catch up. And it’s harsh. So you can afford to finish in second place four times. Therefore, you must play it safe without sacrificing performance,” he said. For now, Mercedes does not plan to change its driver’s engine, but the German team remains attentive to Red Bull’s developments. The stakes are so high that the slightest mistake could be fatal in the race for the world champion and constructors’ title.