According to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton could still avoid a motor penalty this season.
F1 drivers are allowed to use three engines per season; if this limit is exceeded, a grid penalty will be imposed.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas was the victim of such a penalty at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend. He started the race from the bottom of the grid, despite winning the sprint on Saturday after putting in his fourth engine of the season. The Finn finally came in third.
With eight races remaining this year, Hamilton is second in the drivers’ standings, just five points behind Red Bulls Max Verstappen. The British have two functioning engines available, so Mercedes is considering using a fourth.
On Motorsport.com, Mercedes team boss Wolff said: “That is not an absolute must, because we are still driving very comfortably with this engine.
“It’s a decision that can be made at any time, but at the moment we don’t think it’s necessary.
“Does that mean we won’t take a fourth? No it does not. We’ll see how the next races develop. “
Hamilton is looking to win an eighth F1 record title after tying Michael Schumacher’s seven championships with last season’s triumph.
Meanwhile, rival Verstappen is aiming for his first title.
The Dutchman and Hamilton got each other out of the way in their second collision of the season at the Italian GP on Sunday, Verstappen later received the guilt and a starting place penalty for the next race: the Russian Grand Prix.
Daniel Ricciardo overtook Verstappen, who started from pole at Monza, on the first lap before winning the race – his first win since 2018.
Lando Norris made it a McLaren one-two by finishing second. It was the 21-year-old Brit’s best result in a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
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