About engines. Both of them had their last engine (ICU and all) installed in Suzuka. Engines are planned to run four weekends (one of them just three), so both of them will have to re-use an older one for onc race. Although the FIA doesn't publish which particular engines used in the cars which weekends, it's very straightforward to figure it out from the part replacement and "number of engines used" reports.
According to this, Rosberg's best used engine is the one that ran just two races in Spa and Monza. It was supposed to run in Singapore as well but Rosberg didn't start the race, so it only has an additional Singapore Saturday in it.
Hamilton seems to have two engines that he could use. The first one ran a Melbourne Saturday, Malaysia, Bahrain, and Hungary Sunday, making it three net weekends old even though it was used four times (and we don't know if it was used elsewhere on Fridays). The other one is his Spa, Monza, Singapore engine. Although his team dismissed saving the engine in Spa, I bet they think otherwise now in hindsight. After all, if there's just one engine they wouldn't want to risk using four times, surely it is the one doing Spa and Monza.
I wonder if they'll consider installing a 6th ICU in Brazil if the circumstances allow, such as a big enough points lead to retain 14 for AD with a second/third, or other cars changing engines en masse making a penalty hurt less. Or do you guys think engines are no concern for Mercedes?
Edited by paipa, 08 October 2014 - 16:36.