A drive unit with a smoke screen in 53rd lap of the race for the GP of Brazil announced that it is no longer going, they will bring in on Thursday Mercedes factory in Brixworth, where they will disassemble it and analyze the problem. Final decision and plan for the race in Abu Dhabi will be unveiled early next week.
"I did not see the smoke myself, but I was told on the radio that it could be seen. No drop in power was detected, but after turn no. 3 then he switched off the engine himself, " je Bottas said after the race.
When asked by reporters if he had any reserves with previous power units, Bottas replied: "I have a hard time commenting because I don't know exactly, but I doubt I have a few miles left there." James Allison, Mercedes' technical director, could not confirm whether the engine could still be salvaged. "Oil consumption suddenly rose, half a lap before the engine stopped."
Both others this year Bottas drive unit they have already separated theirs this year, which does not mean that they could not use any of them race in Abu Dhabi, but it’s not an established practice, Allison says. If Bottas has to replace the drive unit, of course it will punished by regression after the starting line.
