Hamilton says he used Brazil qualifying as a power‑unit test amid grid penalties

Lewis Hamilton opened up about his approach to Saturday’s qualifying session at the Brazilian Grand Prix, confirming that he deliberately used the session as a real‑world test for his freshly‑installed power‑unit. Speaking to Formula1.com, the seven‑time world champion said the team needed to gather data on the new components, even if it meant compromising his starting position.

Hamilton’s decision came after Mercedes announced a 15‑place grid penalty for exceeding the season’s allocation of power‑unit elements. The penalty, which will see the seven‑time champion start well down the order, forced the team to weigh the benefits of immediate performance data against a potentially poorer race result. "We knew we were going to have a penalty," Hamilton explained, "so we thought the best use of the session was to run the new parts and see how they behave under full qualifying load."

The British driver also touched on the broader strategic implications for the championship. With Max Verstappen leading the drivers’ standings, Hamilton’s focus has shifted from outright qualifying speed to long‑term reliability and development. "It's not just about the next race; it's about the whole season," he said. "If the new unit gives us an edge later, that’s worth the short‑term hit."

Mercedes will now have to manage the balance between performance and reliability as the season moves into its final stretch. The team’s engineers will analyse the data gathered in São Paulo to fine‑tune the power‑unit for upcoming races, especially the high‑downforce circuits where Mercedes traditionally excels.

For Indian fans: The Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying took place at 12:00 IST, with the race starting at 15:00 IST. Live coverage is available on FanCode, which also offers a post‑race analysis segment featuring Indian F1 pundits. Keep an eye on Hamilton’s progress, as any performance gains from the new power‑unit could prove decisive in the remaining races, especially the upcoming Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix.

Source: Formula1.com