Lewis Hamilton’s retirement from the Australian Grand Prix was caused by a faulty power unit from the Mercedes Formula 1, according to Toto Wolff. The power unit suffered a sudden shutdown on lap 17, forcing Hamilton to retire from the race. Technical Director James Allison explained that the engine experienced a rapid loss of oil pressure, leading to the decision to shut it down. Further investigations revealed that the power unit was beyond repair and had to be discarded. Wolff acknowledged the unusual hardware failure and stated that it was uncertain if another power unit would be needed for the remainder of the season. The setback adds to the challenges faced by Hamilton and Mercedes in the 2024 season, which has already seen calibration issues with their new W15 charger. Despite this, Hamilton remained optimistic after the practice sessions in Suzuka, describing them as the best sessions of the year so far.
