Mercedes has changed the water pumps on both of its Formula 1 cars after detecting an issue in the build-up to the United States Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton qualified on pole position while team-mate Valtteri Bottas set the fourth-best time but will move up to third in the wake of Sebastian Vettel’s penalty.
Mercedes confirmed that, following a leak on Bottas’ car in qualifying, data from Hamilton’s car detected that there was also an issue on that side of the garage.
The water pumps were fitted fresh at the Circuit of the Americas and Mercedes has opted to fit “old proven pumps of the same specification.”
The change does not result in a grid penalty.
Hamilton has won five of the six Grands Prix to be held in Austin, including across the past four years, and will seal a fifth world title if he out-scores Vettel by eight points.
Vettel will start the race from fifth position.
Mercedes is not in a position to clinch the Constructors’ Championship this weekend.
