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[Stealthgate007]

Earlier is was reported that McLaren had a Joker Engine, meaning they could change engine without penalty. Does that mean they will have fresh engines for the last two races and some will be going to Sao Paulo on a race run engine? If so, anyone know the details?

[bud]

well McLaren could play the joker with Lewis this round as he is on his second run and will have a fresh one for Brazil

Heikki has already used his joker though because he DNFd last race he will be on a fresh engine.

Massa is also on his second run but has used his joker as well.

[Denthúl]

Kovalainen already used his 'joker' in Singapore for a fresh engine to last that race and Japan. Due to his engine failure in Japan, he'll be on a fresh engine anyway in Shanghai and second-race engine in Interlagos. Hamilton still has his 'joker' but will be on a fresh engine in Shanghai anyway. This would normally lead you to believe that he has an advantage going to Brazil, in that he could have a fresh engine there whilst his competitors may be on a second-race engine, however according to Ted Kravitz's Fuji Notebook, a 'joker' engine change cannot be made in the final round of a season.

[bud]

is that true about Lewis? i worked out he had his last DNF at Canada and from there he finished all the races so going by that he is on his second run on this engine.

[Denthúl]

is that true about Lewis? i worked out he had his last DNF at Canada and from there he finished all the races so going by that he is on his second run on this engine.

That would depend on whether or not they changed the engine, though. They might have felt it safe to stay on that unit for the next race so as not to disrupt the order from the norm. I'll dig up the technical documents and see if there was any mention of it having been changed.

[texasmr2]

Last weekend the SPEED commentator's mentioned that Ferrari have played their Jokers and McLaren have not, or am I one race behind??

[Denthúl]

Last weekend the SPEED commentator's mentioned that Ferrari have played their Jokers and McLaren have not, or am I one race behind??

Kovalainen used his 'joker' engine change in Singapore because they noticed some wear. Hamilton still has one available to him. If what Kravitz has written in his article is true, then it's possible that we could see Lewis run one engine for qualifying, push it to the limit, then swap it out for a fresh one during the race.

[KyrosV]

bit of a risk?

what if his engine blows up in the race? then hes got a 5 grid penalty for brazil?

[Denthúl]

bit of a risk?

what if his engine blows up in the race? then hes got a 5 grid penalty for brazil?

He'd have a fresh engine in for the race. And if his engine blows during the race, he'd suffer no penalty in Brazil, since an engine change is free for retirees.

[KyrosV]

bit of a risk?

what if his engine blows up in the race? then hes got a 5 grid penalty for brazil?

He'd have a fresh engine in for the race. And if his engine blows during the race, he'd suffer no penalty in Brazil, since an engine change is free for retirees.

ok a fault is found in free practise 2 at brazil?

[Denthúl]

bit of a risk?

what if his engine blows up in the race? then hes got a 5 grid penalty for brazil?

He'd have a fresh engine in for the race. And if his engine blows during the race, he'd suffer no penalty in Brazil, since an engine change is free for retirees.

ok a fault is found in free practise 2 at brazil?

Well, he wouldn't be running his race engine on Friday anyway. And according to Ted Kravitz, drivers can't use their 'joker' in the final round, so if a problem developed with an engine at any point after Friday practice and before the race, Hamilton would still suffer a penalty (provided what Kravitz says is true).

[lcplcombat]

Do the rules say anything about using an engine that has be swaped out before?

[racechick]

is that true about Lewis? i worked out he had his last DNF at Canada and from there he finished all the races so going by that he is on his second run on this engine.

Pretty certain lewis stil has his freebie..mentioned it on another thread. Massa has definately used his.

[Denthúl]

is that true about Lewis? i worked out he had his last DNF at Canada and from there he finished all the races so going by that he is on his second run on this engine.

Pretty certain lewis stil has his freebie..mentioned it on another thread. Massa has definately used his.

Correct on both counts, though Shanghai seems like his only opportunity to use it.

[darwin dali]

Speed reported that both FM and LH are on new engines. Also, that the joker rule on the surface appears clear cut, but when you dig deeper it's all a bit hazy. So, they suggested that McLaren, given the situation with the FIA, wouldn't want to go out on a limb and simply use the joker for no reason, i.e., only if they really suffer an engine problem that justifies a joker would they actually use it.