Lewis Hamilton’s ‘miracle weapon’ called into question by Red Bull chief Helmut Marko
Mercedes boss hopes ‘robbed’ Lewis Hamilton will continue racing
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Lewis Hamilton’s engine at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix has once again been called into question by Red Bull chief Helmut Marko. The Mercedes driver sensationally won the race despite starting in 10th place having been given a penalty for taking a new power unit.
Hamilton was disqualified during qualifying and then went from 20th to fifth during sprint qualifying.
The 36-year-old started the race in 10th but incredibly raced past rival Max Verstappen to win a Grand Prix for the first time in three attempts.
He went on to succeed in Qatar and Saudi Arabia to set up an enthralling winner-takes-all showpiece event in Abu Dhabi, which Verstappen controversially won to lift his first world championship.
However, Hamilton’s engine was called into question in Brazil because it seemed much more powerful than any of the other five produced by Mercedes.
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Marko has labelled Hamilton’s car a ‘miracle weapon’ but steered clear of suggesting that any rules were broken.
“It was only amazing, there are six Mercedes-powered vehicles and only Hamilton had such a miracle weapon,” he told Formel 1.
“But that’s the case and we don’t want to accuse anything about it.”
He added: “How Hamilton flew past us was a unique situation [in the season].
“All the top speed measurements were then back within the scope afterwards.
“Everything fit together optimally on this engine, we also know that.”
Cars from McLaren, Aston Martin and Williams are all powered by a Mercedes engine.
McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl has said that he saw no difference in any Mercedes power unit data compared to Hamilton’s engine in Brazil.
“When I look into the data, and we compare the data from other teams, I don’t see there was ever an extraordinary, spicy engine around,” Seidl said, as quoted by FormulaRapida.net.
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“In the end, we were happy with what we got supplied the entire year from Mercedes.
“It is clear it’s the same for every power unit manufacturer.
“Whenever you install a new engine compared to one that is high mileage, there is a difference in terms of power because of the natural degradation engines are having. That can cost some tenths.
“I see the same throughout the grid. But I don’t see anything spectacular or particular there on teams or power unit manufacturers.”
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