'Mercedes also boosts Bottas' engine to challenge Verstappen'
Rumors
- GPblog.com
Mercedes has to defend a small lead in the constructors' championship and make up a small deficit to Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship. To make things as difficult as possible for Red Bull Racing and the Dutchman, Valtteri Bottas' W12 will be fitted with an improved engine.
Mercedes in full attack
Mercedes is fully committed to the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The difference in points is marginal so in the penultimate race there is an important lead to gain for the German team. In the event that Lewis Hamilton wins the race in Jeddah with the fastest lap and Verstappen comes second, the drivers will head to Abu Dhabi with equal points.
Mercedes is, therefore, determined to have Bottas finish ahead of the Dutchman. Rumour has it according to the Spanish branch of Motorsport.com that the Finn will have the same engine set-up as Hamilton had in Brazil. In Qatar Hamilton raced without this very fast power unit, but in Jeddah, he will use it again. Bottas will not have a seventh power unit installed, but it seems that a new set-up will be applied to his sixth engine.
What will Red Bull do about it?
Verstappen is therefore likely to face another tough battle, in which he will have to take on both Mercedes cars on his own. Red Bull Racing does seem to have found the problems with the DRS during the Qatar GP and the team has fixed them with a more curved and less rigid mounting system. The speed Red Bull gains with this on the straight will be the Austrian team's answer.