All Renault-powered cars handed new-spec MGU-K in China

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Renault has equipped all its power units in Shanghai with a new MGU-K element following the double failure that hit its works drivers in Bahrain.

Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo retired within seconds of each other in the closing stages of the race at Sakhir, missing out on a solid haul of points.

The sudden stoppage was later traced to an MGU-K issue similar to the failure that hit McLaren's Carlos Sainz in Melbourne.

Renault subsequently revised the specification of the component, but only Sainz was handed the latest element in Bahrain which has now been fitted to all its units.

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"The retirements were completely related to the MGU-K problem," Renault F1 team boss Cyril Abiteboul told Motorsport.com.

"It was extremely clear for Daniel, but it was also related to that for Nico, except that for Nico we also had to change the power unit out of precaution.

"It was a little bit the same thing as for Carlos in Australia, the failure of the MGU-K triggered some damage to the rest of the engine."

"The update was triggered by what happened to Carlos in Melbourne," added Abiteboul;

"We only had two parts available for Bahrain, one to go with Carlos to replace the one that had the failure in Melbourne, and one that was available as a spare for the two teams.

"But it was decided not to replace any of them out of precaution. And obviously this weekend we are able to change for all cars."

The sight of both Renault drivers pulling off the track almost at the same time and at the same spot left everyone astonished.

However, Abiteboul said the timing of the simultaneous failures was a pure coincidence.

"It was a sign of God! It was a pure coincidence, but clearly an indication that we needed to get it sorted. So the MGU-K is sorted for this weekend," explained the Frenhcman.

"Having said that we have had a number of issues unrelated to the MGU-K since the season started, the qualifying in Melbourne we had a problem, the qualifying in Bahrain we had a problem, and it’s important that we now put that behind and get things in order."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.