All Mercedes customer teams to run upgraded engine

All three Mercedes powered teams will run the German manufacturers upgraded power unit this weekend in Canada.

Mercedes is the last of the power unit suppliers to introduce its first upgrade, as Ferrari, Renault and Honda have already done so.

While the Mercedes works team will use the engine, Racing Point will run the new unit around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this weekend, as will backmarkers Williams. 

"The guys back at Brixworth have been working incredibly hard,” Hamilton said on Thursday during the FIA press conference.

“It’s not been the easiest beginning of the year in terms of preparing the engine. Whilst it’s an evolution of the previous years, it’s not been the smoothest ride, but we’ve had great reliability with the first engine.

“It’s always great having a new engine in that it’s fresh. It’s 'Phase 2', so it will have all new mods, slight improvements everywhere.

“It’s not like at the beginning of the hybrid era where you took massive steps, it’s just small steps. The guys have worked so hard. It’s now small percentages, but they’re very much appreciated.”