Marko: "Mercedes have done a masterpiece to conjure up such a rocket"

Can't Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing and Honda just do the same trick as Mercedes? Putting in a new engine, taking a grid penalty and therefore being able to use more engine power sounds like a good plan, but Helmut Marko explains after the Brazilian Grand Prix that it won't work for the RB16B.

Marko told the Austrian television station ORF that a new internal combustion engine from Honda could result in only a small power gain. Converted to horsepower that is between four and seven horsepower. Red Bull's calculations show that Hamilton can use 20 hp more since his engine change.

Hamilton engine blisteringly fast

What is remarkable is that only Hamilton seems to drive with so much extra power. Bottas and the drivers of Mercedes' customer teams are less fast on the straights than the seven-times world champion. "We haven't seen an engine like that from Mercedes in recent years, as far as I can remember. Unbelievable. And it's only Hamilton's powerunit. All the others are within the normal range. Mercedes have done a masterpiece to conjure up such a rocket at this crucial stage."

The man from Graz continued, "Hamilton won it on the straights. Max was on average two to three tenths faster in the middle sector, risked everything, had to drive on the limit. Of course, that also had an influence on the tyres. But it was the only way to not get caught on the straights."