McLaren to play safe with Lewis’ engine?
McLaren-Mercedes CEO Martin Whitmarsh has revealed that the team is looking at the possibility of running Lewis Hamilton's engine in a 'safer setting' in Brazil next weekend.
Hamilton will start in Interlagos with a seven-point cushion over Felipe Massa and after such a good run in China is clearly the favorite to take the 2008 F1 drivers' title.
However, unlike Massa – and Kimi Raikkonen and Heikki Kovalainen for that matter too – he won't be able to use a new V8 engine, as he had a fresh one in Shanghai. That means he will be at a slight disadvantage and one thing McLaren will want to ensure is that he can get to the checkered flag.
"For this race, we'll be looking at the possibility of running Lewis's engine in a safer setting so it has a bit more margin than normal," Whitmarsh confirmed. "It's something we do throughout the season but, clearly, there's a greater need to be safe next weekend."