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(Motorsport-Total.com) – “Of course I read that they had lowered their engines a bit. Of course that doesn’t help.” Here’s what Red Bull driver Max Verstappen had to say at the press conference in Abu Dhabi when asked about the form of Mercedes. That, in turn, made Mercedes drivers perk up.
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Max Verstappen talks Mercedes performance, Hamilton can’t believe it Focus
Lewis Hamilton immediately asked, “What was that engine thing about?” And Verstappen replied: “The MGU-K.” But Hamilton didn’t seem to understand and asked again: “With us?” To which Verstappen said: “That’s what was said, yes.”
Hamilton couldn’t believe it: “Is that true? I don’t think so.” And Valtteri Bottas said: “Maybe so, but we don’t know anything about it.” Which Verstappen, in turn, used as verbal advice: “Maybe they just don’t want to tell you!”
Hamilton: No information from Mercedes.
The topic came up again later at the press conference, this time mentioned by Hamilton when he spoke about the gap with Red Bull. The race showed that Red Bull had “a solid car,” he explains.
“And as far as I know, we haven’t had any changes to our engine. That means it’s true Red Bull pace and not a step back for us.”
Even later in the press conference, Mercedes drivers received a message from a journalist that Toto Wolff had pointed out that the power needed to be reduced because there could be a possible problem with the MGU-K unit in the vehicle.
It was enough for donuts!
Bottas then spoke and said, “Honestly, I had no idea that our path was rejected. I can’t say much about it. I don’t know how much. So: I have no idea.”
Hamilton, in turn, said he would ask the team immediately after the press conference. “I didn’t know anything about it,” he says. He did not want to rule it out: “There were problems with other Mercedes engines, for example Force India and Williams, so it is not [undenkbar]. “
“We definitely have work to do,” explains the world champion. “But I’m thankful we’re done. Anyway, we don’t need the motors anymore. And they were good enough for a couple of donuts!”
