Mercedes confirm ‘Phase 2’ F1 engine for Canadian GP

Mercedes will introduce its first engine upgrade of the 2019 Formula 1 season at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.

As expected, the reigning world champion squad has brought a new power unit, dubbed “Phase 2”, to Montreal as it looks to make it seven wins out of seven.

The German manufacturer has confirmed its latest engine will be made available to all six Mercedes-powered cars this weekend, including works drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

In recent seasons, teams have traditionally brought their first power unit upgrades of the year to the power-sensitive Circuit Gilles Villeneuve venue.

Championship leader Hamilton said Mercedes’ latest engine will bring “slight improvements everywhere”.

"On the engine side, the guys back at Brixworth have been working incredibly hard," Hamilton explained. 

"It has not been the easiest beginning of the year in terms of preparing an engine. While it’s an evolution of previous years, each time you are always trying to push the envelope. So many people working so hard to improve it.

"As I have said, it’s not been the smoothest ride, but we have had great reliability with the first engine. It is always great when you have a new engine, being it’s fresh. This is a power circuit, so it’s come at the perfect time you. If look at previous years, this is always the race where we bring second engine.

"It is phase two, so it will have all new mods, slight improvements everything. It’s not like at the beginning of the hybrid era where you make massive strides forwards or even last year. It’s small steps.

"The biggest difference is that it’s brand new, it’s fresh. The old engine has done six races, it will have degradation etc. The guys have worked so hard, it’s now small percentages, it’s very much appreciated."

Unlike Mercedes, rival squad Ferrari brought forward its first engine upgrade of the season by four weeks at the Spanish Grand Prix in May.