No sooner had Toto Wolff confirmed that the works team and its customers would be following the example of Ferrari, Renault and Honda in introducing an engine upgrade this weekend, than the team announced that a "quality control issue" meant the new power unit wouldn't be seen until the next round of the championship, in France.

The failure to introduce the new engine, particularly at a track like Montreal, where power is at a premium, will play into the hands of Mercedes rivals fears Lewis Hamilton.

"If the others are bringing upgrades and are using fresh engines, particularly with how close we are on performance, we won't be in a position to fight I don't believe," he told reporters.

"I mean, it is a power circuit and there is power lost over the life of an engine and all I'm hoping for is that if I'm on the seventh race at a power difficult circuit on the engine I just want to see it through to the end. That's my only concern," he added.

The Briton and his team come off the back of a weekend in Monaco which was all about "damage limitation", tyre issues plaguing Hamilton throughout the race and eventually finishing third, thereby losing three vital championship points to title rival Sebastian Vettel.

However, new engine or no new engine, Hamilton insists he will still give 100%.

"Naturally I am still here to win but as I said if they've got upgrades on their engines, which can be a tenth to two tenths, Ferrari are particularly very strong on the straights, it will be interesting to see whether we're able to match them or not. But we're going to give it everything we've got, that's for sure."

Check out our Friday gallery from Montreal, here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by stackvideo, 08/06/2018 23:27

"Sand bagging"

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 08/06/2018 15:05

"I doubt Mercedes will be at a power disadvantage, but what with silly tyres, and so-on....?"

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3. Posted by FormerF1Fan, 08/06/2018 14:52

"Finally, after many years, Hamilton is beginning to learn from Alonso. Much better to start by broadcasting low expectations, then end up a hero even if you don't win. "

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Hamilton: We won't be in a position to fight

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