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

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21:05, 13 Dec 2020

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	292
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	211
3	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	191
4	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	186
5	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	167
6	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	145
7	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	120
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	71
9	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	59
10	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	41
11	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	31
12	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	27
13	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
14	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	10
15	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	7
16	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
17	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
18	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
19	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	3
20	Yuki Tsunoda Yuki Tsunoda	Racing BullsRCB	1
21	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0
22	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
23	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0

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

Hamilton and Bottas know nothing about the Mercedes decision.

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