Red Bull opts out of Renault's latest MGU-K upgrade

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB14.
© XPB 

Neither Daniel Ricciardo nor Max Verstappen will have access to Renault's new MGU-K for this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso has also passed on the French manufacturer's latest upgrade this weekend. However, his McLaren team mate Stoffel Vandoorne has been fitted with the new part.

Renault announced on Friday that both drivers for their factory team will have a brand new MGU-K. It is the second of the season for both Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg - as well as Vandoorne - meaning that none will be hit by grid penalties.

However Verstappen is already on the last of his three permitted MGU-Ks of the season, meaning that he would be penalised if they took Renault's new component this weekend.

“It’s available for all the cars that want it,” Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul told Motorsport.com earlier this week. “It happens that not all teams have elected to go to the new spec.

"They will continue to use the MGU-K of a previous technical definition, with a higher reliability risk."

Hulkenberg has already said that he's not expecting "a huge deal" from the new MGU-K and said it was just one piece of the puzzle.

Sainz and Hulkenberg also take a new energy store this weekend, as do Alonso and Vandorne. Sainz additionally takes on a new turbocharger, and Alonso benefits from a new electronics control unit.

All are within the driver's permitted quota for the season. However, they put the drivers close to the brink, with little room to spare for the rest of the campaign.

Power Element Usage

DriverICETCMGU-HMGU-KESCE
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton222111
Valtteri Bottas222122
Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel222112
Kimi Räikkönen232112
Red Bull/TAG Heuer
Daniel Ricciardo333222
Max Verstappen232312
Force India/Mercedes
Sergio Pérez222121
Esteban Ocon222111
Williams/Mercedes
Lance Stroll222111
Sergey Sirotkin222111
Renault
Nico Hülkenberg223222
Carlos Sainz233222
Toro Rosso/Honda
Brendon Hartley444333
Pierre Gasly444322
Haas/Ferrari
Romain Grosjean233112
Kevin Magnussen222122
McLaren/Renault
Fernando Alonso222222
Stoffel Vandoorne222222
Sauber/Ferrari
Marcus Ericsson222122
Charles Leclerc222111

Notes:

  • ICE: Internal Combustion Engine
  • TC: Turbo Charger
  • MGU-H: Motor Generator Unit – Heat
  • MGU-K: Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic
  • ES: Energy Store
  • CE: Control Electronics

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