Mercedes reveal Hamilton car damage after Verstappen F1 crash

Mercedes will conduct further assessment of Lewis Hamilton’s power unit and gearbox that was involved in his race-ending crash with Formula 1 title rival Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton (G
Lewis Hamilton (G
© xpbimages.com

The two championship contenders were wiped out in a collision midway through last weekend’s Italian GP at Monza as they battled for position at the first chicane, with Verstappen’s car launched over the top of Hamilton’s Mercedes.

Hamilton’s rear wing and roll hoop took the brunt of the impact as Verstappen’s rear right wheel came down across his W12, hitting both the Halo and his helmet.

Speaking in Mercedes’ post-race debrief video, the team’s trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin revealed initial analysis showed Hamilton’s engine had avoided damage, though further checks will be carried out on the PU and gearbox.

“We had a bit of time with the car before leaving the circuit to make a quick assessment,” said Shovlin. “The rear wing is quite badly damaged, you will have seen how far that got bent over during the crash.

“There is a bit of superficial damage around wings and floor, but most of the impact was taken by the roll hoop area and the Halo itself.

“That came off quite badly, the quick look at the PU is that that looks okay and the gearbox we will have a bit more of a look into that when it gets back here. But as I said most of it was limited to the Halo and the roll hoop area.”

Speaking on Sunday evening in Monza, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said it is “not an absolute must” that Hamilton will need to take an additional power unit as Bottas did and serve a subsequent grid penalty.

“It's not an absolute must because we're still running very comfortably with this power unit," Wolff said. "It's a decision that can be made at any time but, at the moment, we don't feel it's necessary.

"Does that mean we're not going to take a fourth? No, it doesn't. We will see how the next races pan out."

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB16B and Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W12 crash at the first chicane.
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB16B and Lewis Hamilton (GBR)…
© xpbimages.com

Wolff also praised the Halo for saving Hamilton from serious injury or death after the seven-time world champion walked away from the incident with just a sore neck after Verstappen’s wheel struck his helmet.

“I am pleased to say he is doing well,” Shovlin added. “He has a sore neck, you will have seen in the photographs just how far he got pushed forward during the incident but he has got a bit of time to recover.

“And he has got Angela [Cullen] with him, his physio, she will be looking after him as she does, so we are hoping we will see him in Russia fighting fit.”

Mercedes strategy director James Vowles said: “The Halo truly saved his life in this instance, the helmet took the impact and took it well without damaging him and again the HANS device acted as it should do.

“Those three devices all working together to ensure Lewis is, as Shov said, a little bit bruised and hurting but okay.”

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