Lewis Hamilton says mileage concerns with the engine in his Mercedes Formula 1 car prompted his call to retire from last weekend’s German Gran𒁏d Prix.

Having fallen to the back of the field following a spin in the closing stages of an uncharacteristi💛cally error-strewn race, Hamilton came over his team radio to suggest🥃 Mercedes retired his car from the race.

Hamilton ultimately went on to finish 11th, but post-race penalties for both Alfa Romeo drivers promoted the Briton up to ninth, enabling him to further enhance his championship advantage over Mercedes teamm♓ate Valtteri Bottas to 41 points.

Asked why he wanted to retire from the race ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamꦆilton replied: “For one I was not feeling great, b𓄧ut mostly I was thinking I am dead last and I can play the chances of us scoring points.

“Then I was thinking how many races have I got to do on this en﷽gine? Could I save another 15 laps of mileage on this engine? Could I save the gearbox? All those kind of things. 

“So I said&nbs𒁃p;don’t feel bad if you pull me in guys. But that is the way I am always thinking. Even in pr﷽actice, if they say you can do 23 laps I will do 20. I am still cautious. 

“Just to make sure when you come to a race and you have to go back to another engine and sometimes you do then usually I have less mileage on my engine than the other d🍬river.

“Then hopefully I wont have any mishaꦡps with the engine, that 𓄧is what I am conscious of.”

Amid talk of a 22-race calendar for 2020 with the future of the Spani♚sh Grand Prix looking more p🐈romising, concerns have been voiced over the current three-engine-per-season limit.

Hamilton reckons it🐼 would be possible to get through an extra race with the♓ current power unit restrictions in place, though he warned increased mileage strains would result in a lack of on-track running during practice sessions.

“It would be p🦄ossible to do it with three,” Hamilton said.

“It is a stretch to do it with three and it means we do less running which&꧋nbsp;is worse for the fans who♕ sit in the grandstands, if you don’t go out until 20 minutes in because of mileage issues.

“I don't kﷺnow h⛄ow that will be for TV but again, it’s not a massive expense to have one more engine for the season.

“Even for the customers in the scheme of things they could save that elsewhere for sure, j꧙ust for one engine I am certain. 22 races that's a lot of races, shoot.”