Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing performance at the United States Grand Prix was further compounded by Mercedes’ decision not to make significant set-up changes to his car.
The team’s decision was largely influenced by concerns over the Formula 1 budget cap.
Despite Hamilton’s pleas for a fresh engine to improve his chances, Mercedes opted to stick with the existing setup.
Technical director James Allison explained that while a new engine could have provided a slight performance boost, the financial implications of exceeding the budget cap would have outweighed the potential gains.
“We talked about it, and it was an option to do what George did, to start from the pit lane having changed the set-up on his car between qualifying and the race,” Allison said in a team video. “We did not actually have any reason to think there was much wrong with Lewis’ setup… The cost in cost cap hit would have not made that worth paying for.”
Hamilton’s weekend was already challenging, with a Q1 exit and a spin during the race. The decision to prioritize budget cap compliance further limited his opportunities for a strong finish.
