Bottas takes third power unit as a precaution

Mercedes has fitted Valtteri Bottas’s third power unit of the 2018 season due to concerns arising from his retirement from the Austrian Grand Prix.

The team has installed a third engine, turbocharger and MGU-H on Bottas’s car, and his second MGU-K. He has not exceeded any of his maximum allocations yet and will be receive a penalty.

His second power unit, which has only been used in two races, has not been taken out of service and could reappear at future races. The team will conduct further examination of the unit before deciding whether to use it again.

Mercedes say they are concerned about the high temperatures the power unit encountered when Bottas retired from last week’s race at the Red Bull Ring. It has not changed any parts on Lewis Hamilton’s car.

Nico Hulkenberg, who also failed to finish in Austria, has had a third new Renault power engine and turbocharger fitted for this weekend’s race.

Sauber has fitted the second control electronics and energy store to Charles Leclerc’s car and Romain Grosjean has also taken his second energy store. None of the changes incur any penalties.

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2018 F1 season

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