Mercedes considering Hamilton engine change: 'Difficult to evaluate'

After having Valtteri Bottas change to his sixth internal combustion engine of the season, the question increasingly arises as to whether an engine change is in the offing for Lewis Hamilton too. Toto Wolff admits that there is that possibility.

The Mercedes team boss acknowledges that the team is struggling with reliability issues. "We don't fully understand the problems yet, but are already a bit closer to a solution," he said in the press conference ahead of the United States Grand Prix to the likes of Formule1.com.

Wolff acknowledges reliability problems Mercedes

"I can't say what it is, but it is obviously a concern," he continued. "It is also a question of balancing the performance we are going for. Of course, we had hoped not to have to change so many engines and have fewer grid penalties. Our customer teams Aston Martin and McLaren have had a bit more luck in that area. We really have to take it, but we're trying to do as well as we can."

There is a chance that Hamilton, too, could have to suffer another grid penalty. "That chance is there of course. I can't say how big that chance is, but the risk is there. It's difficult to judge whether it's better to take another penalty as a precaution, or to really go for it and risk a retirement," the Mercedes team boss concluded.