Mercedes reveals cause of Hamilton engine failure

Mercedes has revealed a 'big-end bearing failure' was to blame for Lewis Hamilton's dramatic exit from the Malaysian Grand Prix following an engine blow.

The defending champion was leading comfortably in Sepang when his ICE expired at the start of lap 61 having completed a relatively meagre 618km since it was first installed.

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Following thorough investigations, Mercedes has revealed a 'big-end bearing failure' caused the engine to blow, preceded by a loss of oil pressure at Turn 15 (the final corner) only seconds earlier. Prior to this Mercedes says it had no warning the engine was about to let go.

As a result, Mercedes will introduce safeguards this weekend as it continues to understand what led to the failure, with 'revised running parameters' introduced for all Mercedes engine customers this weekend.

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Though Mercedes does not go into detail about this, it says it is a 'reactive follow-up to further questions to include but not limited to a different, more conservative oil specification.

In addition, planned new engines for five customer drivers this weekend have been delayed to aid the learning process and will continue to use their power units from Malaysia.

Hamilton - who comes into the this weekend chasing a 23 point deficit to Nico Rosberg - will revert to his engine from the Singapore Grand Prix and Rosberg will stick to his Malaysian GP power unit.

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