© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
In the post Abu Dhabi Grand Prix press conference, race winner Max Verstappen mentioned that he had read that Mercedes’ engines have been ‘turned down’.
This was confirmed by team boss Toto Wolff prior to the race, but the exchange between Verstappen and the two Mercedes drivers that ensued was the interesting part.
“To be honest before I got here I didn’t expect to win the race and be on pole,” said Verstappen
“Of course I also read that [Mercedes] had to turn the engines down a bit, so that’s not helping for them.”
This information left Lewis Hamilton a bit puzzled: “Is that right? I don’t think that’s the case.”
Valtteri Bottas also seemed surprised: “Maybe it is, but we don’t know.”
And to this Max Verstappen replied: “Maybe they just don’t want to tell you!”
Both Mercedes drivers were later asked if they were aware that the engines have been ‘turned down’.
“Honestly, I wasn’t aware that the engine was turned down,” said Bottas.
“I can’t really say much. I don’t know if it was how much it was. So, I don’t know. Red Bull was obviously quicker and for the first time this year they have such a gap on the race pace against us so…
“Not much more to say,” concluded the Finn.
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Hamilton was equally in the dark.
“Same really,” said the Briton.
“I don’t… naturally, when we go back now we will ask about it because I wasn’t aware of that, personally.
“I arrived late Thursday night so I think HPP and Mercedes have done an amazing job this year for us. You like at my reliability, for example, it’s been…
“Managed to finish every race so it’s been really fantastic but there have been issues with other engines that Mercedes have done, for example for the Force India [Racing Point’s former name] and with the Williams so it’s not…
“We definitely have work to do so if they have done something then it would make sense for sure and I’m just grateful that we finished now and we’re not going to be using the engines anyway so…
“They were good enough for us to do donuts,” joked Hamilton in the end.
