“We have degradation of the engine and its power wasn’t going to stop dropping until the end of the season,” team boss Toto Wolff said. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was some four tenths slower, but will start from pole on Sunday. “Naturally when they take a new engine they have more power for the weekend,” said the Dutchman. “In principle, they are doing the same thing we were accused of up until Baku,” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said. However, at the time of writing, it was believed the FIA was contemplating disqualification from qualifying and a mandatory pitlane start for Hamilton.

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