Hamilton: Engine Limit Ruined Race Fight

Hamilton has admitted he wanted to protect his Mercedes Engine as a result of F1's three engine limit. 

Hamilton was closing in on race leader Vettel towards the end of the Grand Prix but the World Champion backed off to protect his engine.

Hamilton said: “The engine was overheating and I’ve got to do seven races with this engine, preferably more if I can. I was on the limiter, and I was too hot but I was pushing.

“So, I was nervous about damaging the engine at the same time.

“I just thought (at the end) I couldn’t get him in those other laps, my tyres are going to be worse than now, I’m driving right now at 110%, and I’m risking everything (engine damage) just for that seven points.

“I should probably sit back, save my engine, and use the life of it for the next ones. That goes against my spirit of racing because I want to race right down to the last line.

“(I’m) fit enough, I felt good, but the way the sport is set up with fuel saving and all these different things, three engines, you have to think about that and back off.

“So it’s probably not exciting for the fans to have seen because they probably wanted to have seen it to the end.

“But I want to finish my season on those three engines, I don’t want to have a fourth.”

More fuel to the fire for the removal of the engine limits.