Max Verstappen’s Red Bull wins may have been a ‘mirage’ with Mercedes engines in ‘safe’ mode

Spanish Formula 1 journalist Carlos Miquel reported paddock rumors suggesting Max Verstappen's recent victories may have been aided by Mercedes running their engines in a safe mode. Speaking on the Cortito y al Pie podcast, Miquel relayed that Mercedes reportedly turned down their engine power during hot races in Malaysia and Singapore to prevent breakdowns, potentially creating a mirage regarding Red Bull's true pace advantage.

Mercedes held a comfortable championship lead, allowing them to take a cautious approach to manage severe temperatures at Sepang and Marina Bay. Reliability has been a concern for the team, with George Russell suffering three mechanical retirements and Kimi Antonelli one. Despite the cautious engine settings, Russell still stopped on track during the Malaysian Grand Prix.