Wolff on Hamilton's grid penalty: 'Maybe not needed anymore in 2021'.

b51ed8023a4df916d8b7c0e53d26c4cbb088284b

13:10, 06 Nov 2021

Mercedes have confirmed that Lewis Hamilton will probably not have to take a grid penalty in Mexico for replacing engine parts. The German team believes they have found the main cause of the reliability problem.

Mercedes are suffering from durability problems when it comes to its combustion engine. Valtteri Bottas already had to accept several grid penalties and customer teams McLaren, Aston Martin and Williams are also suffering from this. During the Mexican Grand Prix team boss Toto Wolff came with positive news for Lewis Hamilton. The Austrian is assuming that no new parts are needed for Hamilton's car.

No penalty for Hamilton

"I think we're feeling more robust about one particular issue that seems to be solved," Wolff said as quoted by Motorsport.com. Because overtaking in Formula 1 is a difficult task, Wolff wanted to delay a grid penalty as long as possible. "You can see that Valtteri was absolutely dominant in Turkey, but [in the USA] you just get stuck in traffic with the penalty."

"So we're taking it on the fly. We're deciding, do we need the penalty or are we not needing a penalty? And here certainly we won't take one. And maybe we don't need any until the end of the season. That is really something that is being discussed," Wolff concluded.

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	156
2	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	115
3	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	106
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	73
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	70
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	55
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	37
9	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	32
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	28
11	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	19
12	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
13	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	14
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
15	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
17	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Wolff on Hamilton's grid penalty: 'Maybe not needed anymore in 2021'.

No penalty for Hamilton

Don’t miss GPblog in Google

Horner flattered by Wolff: "Maybe Toto is filling that role well"

Wolff dismisses pressure on Verstappen and Hamilton: 'All bulls**t'

F1 Today | 'Red Bull wants to buy out Verstappen's contract clause', Mercedes withdraws Right of Review

'Mercedes power unit issues are a real concern after Antonelli's DNF'

Fittipaldi delivers verdict: 'Verstappen would beat Norris if they were on the same team'

Schedule | This is when Formula 1 returns to action with the Austrian Grand Prix

Australian stars hit back after Sky Sports pundits' heavy criticism of Piastri

From Raikkonen to Hamilton’s side: The rise of Ferrari’s ‘Italian Bono’

MotoGP Friday Practice Results: Ogura goes top as Marquez crashes again

Marc Marquez crashes twice during Friday practice in Brno

F1 Today | 'Red Bull wants to buy out Verstappen's contract clause', Mercedes withdraws Right of Review

'Mercedes power unit issues are a real concern after Antonelli's DNF'

Fittipaldi delivers verdict: 'Verstappen would beat Norris if they were on the same team'

Schedule | This is when Formula 1 returns to action with the Austrian Grand Prix

Popular on GPBlog

'Red Bull wants to buy out Verstappen's contract clause for millions'

Sky reporter recalls wave of massive online abuse sparked by Verstappen interview

F1 LIVE | Hamilton backed for eighth title, Wolff accused of lowballing Verstappen

F1 Today | Mercedes abandon Monaco appeal bid after Russell penalty dispute, Russell speaks out, Verstappen blasts Schumacher, Alonso gives new formula the thumbs down

Season

Horner flattered by Wolff: "Maybe Toto is filling that role well"

Wolff dismisses pressure on Verstappen and Hamilton: 'All bulls**t'