Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has voiced concerns about their latest engine upgrade following a tricky Saturday in Canada.
The German manufacturer introduced their ‘Phase 2’ units in Montreal for the works team and customers at Racing Point and Williams.
Given the near-bulletproof reliability so far in 2019, it was a great surprise then when Lance Stroll’s engine appeared to fail in a major way in final practice.
The initial line from Racing Point on the radio suggested a hydraulic leak but there was later speculation of an issue with the ICE as the original engine was reinstalled for qualifying.
“We have lots of concern about the engine problem,” Wolff told Sky Sports.
“We don’t know yet what really happened it just went up in flames. A brand new engine on an out-lap, it wasn’t even on full throttle.
“So we need to investigate and analyse what that was and cross our fingers that it doesn’t happen on our cars.”
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Worries are not only linked to the reliability either, as the Mercedes chief watched Ferrari blow his cars out of the water on Montreal’s straights.
“They’ve really ramped up their game and looking extremely strong,” the Austrian said. “Straight line speed is enormous – we’ve got a fight on our hands.
“We’re not really gaining massively in the corners either, so there is a tiny bit we are gaining but you can see just the discrepancy in the straight-line speed on the main straight is just enormous – I think it is 8km now.
“I think they are probably running a little bit less downforce, that will be part of the game, and I think that it is just sheer power.”
