---
title: "Wolff: Hamilton may avoid engine penalty now reliability issues ‘solved’"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2021/11/06/wolff-hamilton-may-avoid-engine-penalty-now-reliability-issues-solved/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2021-11-06T15:33:07Z"
modified: "2021-11-06T15:33:08Z"
---

# Wolff: Hamilton may avoid engine penalty now reliability issues ‘solved’

Toto Wolff says Mercedes is confident it has now “solved” its main reliability concern that has eased fears Lewis Hamilton would need to take another Formula 1 engine penalty.

Despite introducing an updated power unit after the summer break, Mercedes has been grappling with the durability of its internal combustion engine \[ICE\] ever since.

It has led to both Mercedes and its engine customer teams needing to take grid penalties at recent races, causing concern Hamilton could be consigned to an inevitable grid drop in one of the remaining five rounds.

Hamilton previously dropped 10 places in Turkey following an engine change, but Mercedes is reluctant to switch the Briton’s power unit again with his title battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen entering the final stages.

But Mercedes F1 chief Wolff says the prospect of Hamilton avoiding a grid penalty for the remainder of the season was much brighter, now the team is on top of its reliability woes.

“I think we’re feeling more robust about one particular issue that seems to be solved,” Wolff said at the Mexican Grand Prix, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

Wolff confirmed there were no plans for Hamilton to switch to a third ICE in Mexico, aware of how Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas struggled to make his way through the field in Austin after his own grid penalty.

“I think it’s never right to take a penalty, because these days it’s so difficult to overtake,” Wolff said.

“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.”

Red Bull appears to have the upper hand on Mercedes this weekend after Verstappen ended FP2 four tenths clear of Bottas, with a Hamilton further 0.1s  back in third.

But Wolff isn’t convinced Mercedes’ prospects are that bleak, with the team’s engine performing better than expected at high altitude.

“It \[Mexico\] was never such a happy place for us in terms of car performance, although we love Mexico because we’re so welcome,” Wolff said.

“We don’t seem to find the sweet spot and so we were chasing various directions \[in practice\].

“On a positive note, our engine is performing well. There was a little bit of a gap in the years before, and that’s fine.

“I think for us, it’s about doing the best possible job. But maybe that is difficult with Max’s performance.”