Mercedes has no plans to throw in the towel before it has run out of cartridges at its disposal. The world champion team used what is most likely its last weapon at Interlagos today, namely the use of a new internal combustion engine on Lewis Hamilton’s car.
The official version, regarding the reasons that led to the use of the fifth ICE on car number 44, is that of Toto Wolff, skilled in managing the team as well as in speaking to the media. According to Wolff, the reason is a loss of power that the endothermic V6 suffers with increasing mileage.
But will it really be like this? The impression we had today at Interlagos is that Hamilton’s new ICE is not just a zero-kilometer V6, but an engine configured even more aggressively than usual, a choice that the British like to call “do or die”, or the it goes or breaks it.
At the moment we have seen the benefits of this choice, that is a Hamilton capable of making a difference with unpredictable margins on the eve of the weekend. His pole position (which for Formula 1 is not a pole position) came with a margin of 0 ”438 over Max Verstappen and 0” 535 over Valtteri Bottas, a huge gap on the Brazilian circuit.
The two Mercedes put Verstappen’s Red Bull in a vice for tomorrow’s race
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
The possibility of being able to count on an absolute technical package gave wings to a Hamilton who appeared in great shape. His braking in corner ‘1’ in the lap that earned him pole was impressive, as was the aggressiveness he showed throughout the session.
“It is difficult for us to be able to calculate exactly the advantage that the new engine has guaranteed to Lewis – commented Christian Horner – but if we evaluate the speed advantage over Bottas we believe it can be a couple of tenths, and this is why they thought of bringing it here in Brazil ”.
Obviously there is the downside, starting with the five positions that Hamilton will have to serve on Sunday’s starting grid.
The unprecedented scenario that took shape at Interlagos sees contrasting a Hamilton who knows he can count on fresh material configured for maximum performance, and a Verstappen who can afford to manage 19 points ahead in the general classification.
Max on paper does not need to attack, starting with tomorrow’s ‘sprint qualifying’, which will see him start from second position. In the 100-kilometer race, the Dutchman’s direct opponent will be Bottas, who will start behind him, as Hamilton would snatch one point from him if he wins (if Verstappen finishes second) and will still have to sit in sixth position on Sunday. For Valtteri it will also be an opportunity to be forgiven for the mistake at the start of the Mexican GP, but a perfect start will be needed to be able to hope to undermine Verstappen.
However, the Mercedes move brought some apprehension back into the Red Bull box, and this from Toto Wolff’s men is already a small achievement.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, congratulates Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
On the eve of the Brazilian away match, and on the positive wave of the triumph in Mexico City, the team made no secret of wanting to leave Interlagos with a further extension from Verstappen, a goal that would give the Dutchman an advantage in terms of points, one perfect scenario in which to evaluate the possibility of ending the season with a new ICE for Max.
But Hamilton was frightening today, because the pace confirmed by Lewis does not prevent him from thinking big, even if he will start from sixth on Sunday. An initial response in view of the race will arrive tomorrow in the FP2 session, when the teams’ work program will be exclusively based on long-runs.
Today’s qualification (non-qualification) also delivered other verdicts, with Pierre Gasly once again leading the way, a role the Frenchman appreciates. The extent of Gasly’s (and AlphaTauri’s) performance is highlighted by the list of names behind him, that is, all those who do not drive a Red Bull and a Mercedes.
Overall, the qualifying of the two Ferraris (sixth and seventh) is also to be judged positive as the two reds managed to get behind both McLarens. Leclerc messed around in Q1, a small but crucial mistake (he crossed the outside line at turn ‘4’ and thwarted his fastest lap) which cost him a second set of new tires which he then had to serve in Q3, finishing behind Sainz.
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