So you think with Nico they'd stagger his engine replacements so he has a penalty at lots of events, rather than one!? They'd deliberately sandbag him? Really? As for Malaysia, am pretty sure Mercedes said it was an unexpected engine failure and all telemetary didn't point to an imminent failure? If he had been pushing, water/oil temps and pressures would have indicated something was going to happen. He was hardly pushing to stay in front of the Red Bulls. Again, not sure what you're getting at when you ask if it was intentional. Like in someway that favours one driver, as you were suggesting Merc does. Am sure Mercedes would rather neither of their cars were be filmed up on jacks in a garage being repaired or in a ball of flame on the track. If Mercedes really, truly, seriously, favoured Hamilton, they had 5 races to 'engineer' a failure on Rosberg's car to even it up, if they really wanted to. Oops, someone didn't tighten up the oil pipe clamp enough. Sorry Nico.
Newsflash : if you drive a race car quickly, you deserve an engine failure. Especially if you're Hamilton.
As said though, nothing suggested it was going to fail. With the rev limits, fuel limts etc, I doubt any engine is pushed anywhere close to 100% of its capabilities. Didn't they trace it to an issue with the crankshaft?
the thing is, the harder you push the more likely something will give out, no engine is supposed to burst into flames, but **** happens. An engine is only as strong as it's weakest part, would it have gone if he was just coasting maintaining a gap? who knows, possibly, possibly not
Lewis won't be punished. That was obvious I think the moment Nico retired. There was no way they were going to alienate Lewis and potentially have to find two drivers. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...defying-team-orders-Abu-Dhabi-Grand-Prix.html