Breaking news
Formula 1
Hamilton: F1 engine mode ban won't "get the result they want"
Lewis Hamilton says the impending move to ban powerful Formula 1 qualifying engine modes will not "get the result that they want" in terms of its impact on Mercedes' performance.
Alex Kalinauckas
Edited: Aug 13, 2020, 4:57 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
F1 squads have been informed that the FIA will issue a new technical directive ahead of this month's Belgian Grand Prix, which will mean the cars will have to run the same engine mode in qualifying and races.
This has been interpreted as a move to reduce the impact of the significant gains the Mercedes-powered teams are able to make in qualifying.
When asked if Mercedes had more to lose compared to other engine suppliers with the move in the pre-event press conference for this weekend's Spanish GP – the last race before the event at Spa – Hamilton replied: "No. And just going back to the fact that at the end of the day, the guys on our team have done such a great job with the engine.
"It's obviously to slow us down but I don't think it's going to get the result that they want, so that's totally fine if they do."
Read Also:
- McLaren cooling problem a "question mark”, says Sainz
- Vettel denies growing tension at Ferrari after Silverstone woes
Hamilton also said "it's not a surprise to us, they're always trying to slow us down. But it doesn't really change a huge amount for us so it's not a problem."
Speaking alongside Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas said Mercedes was unconcerned by the move, but voiced his thoughts on how it could lead to a reduction in overtaking during races.
"It's impossible to know with other engine manufacturers how much they can actually gain when they do it all-out in qualifying and if we're gaining more or not," Bottas explained. "We are not panicking about it, if that regulation comes it's the same for everyone.
"But when I heard about the possibility for the first time, actually this morning, the first thing [that] came to my mind [is the effect it will have in races. Because every team obviously has different modes in terms of how much they want to risk in terms of wearing the engine and sometimes when they can [change the performance mode].
"[It's] also the same for us, we can save the engine if we have margin, and also in terms of strategic things in the race, for drivers many times we are using different modes whether we are defending, attacking.
"So from my side it feels like if it could be the same engine mode for everyone all through the race, I think there could be less overtaking because everyone is just running the same modes instead of playing with them and trying to maximise every situation with sometimes using more power, sometimes less.
"But in the end it would be less things for us to do while driving. Obviously it's not up to us but we'll take it if it comes."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Ricciardo: Silverstone qualifying result "not a freak one-off"
Next article Magnussen mystery: Haas says nothing “specific” wrong with car
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Alex Kalinauckas
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Formula 1
Formula 1 May 3, 2025
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 2, 2025
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 1, 2025
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
More from
Lewis Hamilton
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1 10 h
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
More from
Mercedes
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
10 h
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Latest news
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 3 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 3 h
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
4 h
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe