Mercedes spent five tokens for Spa engine upgrade
Mercedes has confirmed that it has spent five engine development tokens on upgrades to its power unit for this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.
The news comes on a weekend when the German car manufacturer has elected to hand Lewis Hamilton new components because he was running short.
He is currently facing a 30-place grid penalty for the race because he had new parts fitted for both practice sessions that took him over the allocation of five that he is allowed for the season.
With him already pegged to the back of the grid, it is possible that Mercedes may choose to add further new parts to his allocations in final free practice on Saturday.
Customer plan
Mercedes has not specified in what areas its power unit has been improved, but both Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosberg have been given the new developments.
Mercedes customers have not got hold of the new parts yet, because their latest components were fitted as new at the German Grand Prix. But they will get the updates when they next get around to needing new parts.
The Belgium upgrade means that Mercedes has six development tokens left for the rest of the season, but is it unclear at this stage if it will elect to spend them.
Should it do so, the most likely place to introduce at upgrade would be when the next power units are due to come in to play, which is at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Power unit manufacturers have now used the following number of "tokens" prior to, and now after the start of, the 2016 season in accordance with Appendix 4 of the F1 Technical Regulations :
Ferrari 29 (3 remaining)
Honda 29 (3 remaining)
Mercedes 26 (6 remaining)
Renault 11 (21 remaining)
Don’t miss our Belgian GP video preview…
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
Ferrari’s Vigna on Vasseur and fake news: “There is only one reality”
Lewis Hamilton labels Sepang qualifying as "best lap" of his 2026 F1 season
Mercedes confirms George Russell's grid penalty for F1 Singapore GP
George Russell set for grid penalty at F1 Singapore GP after Sepang retirement
As Mercedes looks to deal F1 2026 knockout blow, will its driver fight reignite?
Mercedes confirms George Russell's grid penalty for F1 Singapore GP
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
How Williams wants to avoid a repeat of its 2026 “disaster” next year
2026 Singapore Grand Prix: Guide to schedule, driver meet-ups, and race week parties
Three kings: F1's generational stars shone at Sepang
How F1 let a golden opportunity slip at Sepang
How the Bahrain GP in Malaysia exposed Red Bull’s hidden resurgence
You Ask The Questions: Emerson Fittipaldi
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments