Schumacher questions Hamilton's new 'rocket' Mercedes engine
Nov.19 - Ralf Schumacher has questioned whether Mercedes should have been allowed to install an engine that Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko has described as a "rocket".
In Brazil, championship chaser Lewis Hamilton was pushed to the back of the grid because a fresh engine - outside of his original allocation of three for the full season - was installed.
He ultimately won Sunday's main race, shrinking the points gap to Max Verstappen to just 14 points with three races to go.
A widespread view is that because the new engine only has to tackle a handful of decisive races, Mercedes can push it much harder for the title battle.
New engines also fall outside of the budget cap.
"This worries me a little," former F1 driver Schumacher told Sky Deutschland.
"The FIA should look for a different way because if this idea breaks down, everyone will change the engine every time and then everyone gets the same penalty and everyone has a great performance," he said.
Schumacher hints that F1 should consider imposing a new rule that means only engines with clear technical trouble - not merely high mileage - are allowed to be changed.
"Mercedes only changed it because it was showing too much wear from the previous races. It wasn't broken," the German insists.
"But that's not the point of Formula 1. I find it a bit questionable.
"In my opinion, an engine should only be changed when it has to be. And if Mercedes has more wear and tear and less performance than the others, that's their problem.
"You shouldn't be able to take advantage like this."
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Absolutely agree.
Maybe make the grid penalty 15 places, other than that MS is talking rubbish about only allowing engine changes when the current one is either broken or will break during the race, it would be impossible to police. Perhaps RB shouldn't be allowed to change the rear wing on every Sunday morning either.
Or even Ralf Schumacher, sorry F1 couldn't stop myself, I did try but the appeal was to strong
Glad you posted. You saved me. Almost broke my silence and pointed out that folks really should read for comprehension, not just headlines. smh
Nothing questionable.
...or even 'too strong' Sorry stroppyfly couldn't stop myself, and didn't even bother trying.
That's telling him, PP, Shrop' needs to be slapped around once in awhile, and not those lame Jax(effeminate suffix) sissy slaps.
Funny how Lewis gets penalised for every mistake he makes, but verstappen gets away with everything he does wrong, just like vettel always did!
A totally unfair decision by FIA.
Wish RB had changed theirs.
Why are Engines not included in the budget cap? Seems a ligical limitee...
Logical limiter
Sorry
Don't you see what all you people are missing while making those childish comments?
All the teams have to to is get together and change their engines at the same time!
They'd never agree to that , i did read Honda have used a very hard type of alloy for there 21 engines that doesn't degrade as quick as the material MB use, that's very likely the reason they aren't as bothered about changing there engines as often as Merc.
Nodoubt that help came from Honda Aero division
See I can be sensible.
Ralph is a clear example of a nervous ninny Lol. Max is his greatest hope for Lewis not surpassing his brother so he starts to bitch and complain when Hammer shocks the grid. Much ado.
Ralph? ninny? ah yes 12yr old
Indeed his nonsensical objection and bias is akin to a 12 yr old. "Spot on" Fly guy. 😄
"Mercedes only changed it because it was showing too much wear from the previous races. It wasn't broken,"
Why not then apply this logic to every part of the car for example, even though the tyres may be showing too much wear they continue to use them until they fail then they can use a new set if they are able to make it back to pit lane.
Schumacher makes a lot of rubbish comments that wouldn’t get published if it wasn’t for the fact he has a famous surname that he seems to think qualifies him as an expert in everything.
Changing the engine should be penalized by not allowing the team and pilot to earn any points at the next race he finished, forcing to race even if it's to lose.
I also agree that only destroyed engines could be replaced but that is easy to do... They can easily break an engine.
Sprint give teams this opportunity: because in spring you can recover position for the race, they change the engine at that state and no problem. Strat from the back with a new engine? Next day race is a win for sure.
You all have it wrong. If F1 is ANYTHING, it's ALL about WINNING. Like Ricky-Bob said, "second-place is first-place for losers".
Think long-term big-picture stuff. Like, MB timed the replacement perfectly, knowing there would be a Title and Constructor's challenge near the end of the season. It's not like they don't have a bottomless lake of bubbling gold for a budget.
All teams have a well-paid brain-trust that does nothing but conjure up ways to shave 0.001 of a second off of lap times. Do that enough, and pretty soon you are seconds faster than anyone else's chassis.
MB just happened to find 28+ seconds in their latest conjuring trick.
I just wish the driver wasn't as unspeakably entitled and arrogant and so ho-hum behind the wheel. No 'sizzle'.
Ah yes... It's all coming back to me now... 'There is no terribly way to win (Louise), there is only winning'...
To which Louise replied: 'What a terribly way to win'....
In those glorious days you would never know who would win. Today a rocket engine always wins with a driver that likes to think he's some kind of a god.
Boring...
Correct