Mercedes with new PU elements – Technical news from the Hungarian Grand Prix

F1 Grand Prix, GP Hungary, Hungaroring

Mercedes were forced to introduce new PU elements while Ferrari continued its push on the development of its SF90. As the field heats up for the 34th Hungarian Grand Prix, we bring you the latest technical news from the paddock.

After just two installation laps for Valtteri Bottas during the first free practice session, Mercedes identified a power unit-related issue on his W10. As a precaution, the team elected to change several parts to make sure that the Finn’s weekend goes ahead uninterrupted.

The five-time GP winner has been using a new electric store and a fresh control electronics from the second session onwards. The change did not trigger any penalties as drivers have an allocation of two unit from those two PU components and the Finn has completed the first part of the season with his first ones.

McLaren driver Lando Norris was forced to take a fresh MGU-H from the final practice session. The motor generator unit-heat used by Norris is one of the three new motor generator units-heat allowed for the 2019 Championship season, meaning that the latest change does not have an impact on the Briton’s race weekend. However, as drivers can use up to three MGU-H units, Norris carn face a grid drop penalty later on in the season.

Several drivers started the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend with a new gearbox. Lance Stroll, Antonio Giovinazzi and George Russel were free to take a new unit as heir previous gearbox completed six events.

Following the rain-affected German Grand Prix, several drivers failed to finish the race, giving them the opportunity of using a new gearbox in Hungary. Valtteri Bottas, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris and Sergio Perez are all among those drivers having a free access to a new gearbox.

The Italian team continued to bring upgrades to its 2019 car, the SF90, having started to revise its aerodynamic concept in the French Grand Prix. At Paul Ricard, the Maranello-based squad introduced a new front wing, followed by modifications to the floor and the suspension in the next races.

For the last race before the summer break, the team brought a new reshapes bargeboards and a revised sidepod deflector package. The boomerang-like deflector has been doubled up while several new vanes were added to the leading edge of the footplate of the area.
Following the first analysis, the team was delighted by the performance gains through its latest upgrade and elected to use it in qualifying.

In Hungary, Racing Point completed the second phase of its two-step upgrade. The Silverstone-based team introduced major changes to the sidepods and floor of its car a week ago. The outfit went on with its development programme in Budapest, bringing a new front wing and modifications to the front suspension.

The new front wing features a much shorter footplate design on the upper wing. With the change to the front suspension, the trialled a more aggressive, McLaren- and Mercedes-inspired version of the push-on-upright solution.