P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes technical director James Allison has outlined why the team did not change Lewis Hamilton’s power unit ahead of the United States Grand Prix, despite the British driver starting towards the back.
Mercedes technical director James Allison discussed the decision not to start Lewis Hamilton from the pit lane or change the power unit at the United States Grand Prix despite his poor qualifying result in Austin. The team chose not to follow suit with George Russell’s pit lane start after his crash due to Hamilton’s solid grid position and setup. Allison emphasized the financial implications of unnecessary engine changes under the cost cap regulations, stating that mandatory swaps due to damage do not count towards the cap. While a new power unit could have slightly improved lap times, the team opted against it due to the financial trade-off. Ultimately, Hamilton retired early in the race, making the decision even more critical in hindsight.
