Hamilton takes upgraded MGU-K after F1 engine concerns

Lewis Hamilton has moved onto a brand new MGU-K for the British Grand Prix after his Mercedes Formula 1 team made reliability fixes to its engine.

Mercedes was originally planning to introduce a new specification of MGU-K for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix next week at Silverstone, but it was fast-tracked for Hamilton’s W11 after the team detected a potential reliability issue.

After Hamilton’s victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Mercedes discovered possible “anomalies” on the Briton’s power unit. Teammate Valtteri Bottas and the customer cars of Racing Point and Williams are set to take their new MGU-K’s next weekend.

A Mercedes team spokesperson told Crash.net: “It is a precautionary change one race ahead of schedule owing to some anomalies in the data post Hungary. All cars will take an updated MGU-K next weekend, Lewis has his one week early.”

Drivers are permitted three MGU-K components to use throughout the 2020 season, which has so far been confirmed to consist of at least 13 races, with more set to follow.

Mercedes was hampered by engine-related reliability problems throughout pre-season testing at Barcelona but has made a dominant start to the 2020 F1 season by winning each of the opening three rounds.

Asked if there are any weakness with Mercedes’ W11 heading into the British GP weekend, Hamilton replied: “Are there weaknesses? Erm, it’s pretty strong.

"We should be pretty strong here. There is no warp in the track, it is pretty flat and smooth so the car should be beautiful here, generally. We have been strong here for the last few years.”