Verstappen astonishes Hamilton; Lewis did not know Mercedes had less power

8d06dc19d34a97b10c2b56da4376a9f693779b20

21:05, 13 Dec 2020

byGPblog.com

Prior to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Toto Wolff hinted that Mercedes had chosen to reduce engine power as a precaution. Max Verstappen was aware of this before the start, but at the press conference it appears that Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas did not quite get it.

In the press conference, Verstappen states that it was easier on the Yas Marina Circuit because Mercedes had less power than usual. Hamilton responds: "What did you mean by the engine?" he asks Verstappen.

The Red Bull Racing driver tells the 2020 world champion that it has something to do with the MGU-K. "Yes, that's what was said." Bottas doesn't know anything either: "Maybe it is, but we don't know anything."

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	72
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	63
3	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	49
4	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	41
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	25
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	21
7	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	17
8	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	15
9	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	12
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	10
11	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	4
12	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	4
13	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	2
15	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	1
16	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	1
17	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
18	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	0
19	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
20	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
21	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Verstappen astonishes Hamilton; Lewis did not know Mercedes had less power

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