Mercedes F1 Director Shovlin Gives Boost to Lewis Hamilton’s Chances at Saudi Arabia

Mercedes have really taken a big step since the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton has dominated races in both Brazil and Qatar after using a new engine. But Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin mentioned they used a weaker engine in Lewis’s car in Qatar.

With just 2 races to go in the championship, Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton have an engine advantage over Red Bull and Max Verstappen. Shovlin mentioned that they can use the new Brazil engine in Saudi as the track will suit their car.

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We have a more powerful engine in the car for Lewis: Andrew Shovlin

As reported by Motorsport-Turkey, the Mercedes trackside engineering director mentioned they can run the Brazil engine on higher settings at the Saudi Arabian GP. The track in Jeddah is reported to be the fastest street circuit in F1, with long straights. The circuit layout will favor the top speed of Mercedes.

“We’ve seen quite a few performance fluctuations in the last races, but looking at the Saudi circuit, I think it should suit us. We have a more powerful engine in the car for Lewis, which will give him a useful engine,” said Shovlin.

SINGAPORE – SEPTEMBER 16: Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff (R) and engineer Andrew Shovlin talk in the Pitlane before the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit in September 16, 2018, in Singapore. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)

Andrew Shovlin explained why they ran the weaker engine in Qatar instead of the new engine they used in Brazil.

“There are two powertrains we’re competing with. Here, due to the nature of the track, we used the less powerful of the two engines in the car. So that side of things is in a good place right now.” said Shovlin.

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Mercedes engineer is still wary of the Red Bull threat

But the Mercedes trackside engineer is careful in setting up their expectations before they head to Jeddah. The last time they were clear favorites at a track, it was in the US, and Red Bull beat them. Shovlin emphasized they need to get everything right to win in Saudi Arabia.

Formula One F1 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar – November 19, 2021, Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in action during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

“The track would fit the car, but at the time, we might as well have thought that we could probably set it up properly in Austin and fight Red Bull. But they were better than us. So we don’t go to a race thinking that everything will go our way, we are always cautious.” said Andrew.

With just two races to go, either of the teams can not afford a slip-up as it would most definitely cost them the championship. But with a powerful engine at its back, it looks like Hamilton and Mercedes have the advantage.

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